How To Sell Your Home in 3 Easy Steps

By Richard Warner

I have been an investor and landlord for 5 years. When I got my official real estate license, I started as a First Time Homebuyer Specialist and have since received specialization certifications in Luxury Homes, Probate, and Divorce.

Do you need to sell your house quickly? Maybe you need to relocate for a new job soon, or perhaps you just don’t want to deal with the hassle of a home sale. Whatever your reason, I have tons of experience helping homeowners sell their properties quickly. Here are three actionable tips you can do today to help you sell as soon as possible without slashing your final sale price.

1. Declutter and depersonalize before listing. Start preparing your home by completely emptying it to make the rooms appear larger in photos and in person.

Consider removing window curtains unless the room gets too hot or the view is just an old, unattractive brick wall. The more natural light you let in, the better since adding windows can be costly.

Your curtains can also be seen as an over-personalization. While you love their color and style, everyone has different tastes. Your goal is to avoid over-personalizing your space, which also means putting away family photos and packing them into boxes.

Hiring a professional cleaner to work on your appliances, bathrooms, and windows can make it easier and stress-free. Don’t forget to keep your windows dust-free, squeaky clean, and free of unpleasant smells. You can use a cookie-scented candle plug-in in the kitchen to create a welcoming atmosphere, but I wouldn’t recommend going overboard.

Once your home is spick and span, buyers will be more likely to make good offers sooner.

2. Take care of any minor repairs upfront. One of the most common issues that prolongs a home sale is negotiations over minor repairs, which come from buyer anxiety. Avoid going back and forth with your buyer and their agent by being proactive. Fix any issues before listing to have a smoother sale.

I know we’re on a time crunch, but it’s worth it to address small fixes that don’t require much time or money. For example, if you have old brass light switches or chandeliers, consider replacing them because they’re out of style and making your space feel outdated. Plus, they’re likely dusty and tarnished.

Paint high-traffic areas, like a hallway or staircase where beds and recliners have been dragged through, leaving marks, scuffs, and tears in the walls. You can do this yourself to save money since paint doesn’t cost much and makes your room look cleaner.

Quick and affordable updates make your house look new and show that someone is caring for it. People judge what they can’t see by what they can see. If it’s clean and there’s a clear attempt to maintain it, you’re in a much better position.

3. Offer buyer incentives. If your house is underpriced, it will sell quickly, but you can still get top dollar by listening to your buyer’s concerns. If the flooring looks terrible, offer a carpet budget. This is important unless you’re accepting a cash offer from an investor who will only pay 50% to 70% of the home’s worth.

Usually, there are only two options: Price the house $10,000 less than it’s worth or offer a repair credit for $5,000, which can ease your buyer’s concerns.

Buyers cannot get a loan for more than the purchase price of your house—that’s a standard rule. Because of this, they may only have $1,000 left in their bank account after the transaction.

It makes little difference whether they pay you $20,000 more or less; it only slightly affects their monthly payment. Therefore, they would appreciate a $5,000 bonus on day one. In that case, you would have effectively saved them $5,000. Additionally, consider covering your buyer’s closing costs or including a home warranty: a comprehensive home warranty for around $600 to $700.

These strategies are a great way to sell your house quickly while maintaining a high price. There’s more to be said on this subject, and I would love to answer your questions. For more details, call me at (502) 338-2861 or rich@howtoaffordhomes.com. I’m always here for you.