You want to sell your Durham house, and you want to get top dollar.
Excellent!
The way your home looks is really important to people who might want to buy it. When they see pictures or videos of your home online, it’s their first impression. Good pictures and videos make your home look great, and that helps buyers imagine themselves living there. If your home looks nice in photos and videos, it makes people interested and more likely to want to see it in person.
But “What do I need to do to sell my house in Durham“?
Here are some tips on how to get your home ready to sell if you’re looking for top dollar that the market will bear:
*NOTE: These instructions are if you’re looking to get full retail value for your house sale. However, if you don’t want to do the things below… or don’t have the time or money to do the things below… you can still sell your Durham house fast for a fair value in a win-win sale that’ll save you time and expense.
1) Cleanliness is of utmost importance. Even vacant houses can accumulate dust and grime, so it’s crucial to maintain a pristine environment. Strive for nothing less than immaculate perfection to leave a lasting impression on potential buyers. If you’re not particularly obsessed with cleanliness, consider enlisting the assistance of someone who is until your property is sold.
2) Cultivate a cohesive, neutral style. You don’t have to paint everything off-white. In fact, some subtle colors can really help change the perception of spaces – for example, a soft yellow will help brighten up a dark kitchen, while a deep dark blue or green will help a bright bedroom to feel like a calm place to sleep (but be careful, dark colors will also make rooms feel small).
Spend the money to get high-quality paint and professional help. Subconsciously people will pay more money for a property with just the right colors and very neat lines – it makes the home feel better built, even though it’s just paint.
Optical illusions are real, and psychologists study this stuff. Don’t believe me?
Look it up. And don’t neglect the outside and just do the inside, or anything else that’s unbalanced.
3) Fix or replace anything that’s broken. Yeah, it might feel like a waste of money to spend an extra couple hundred bucks on a dishwasher that someone else might just pull out and replace again. But really, quite a few buyers will get a home inspection and use the opportunity to negotiate with you. As the seller, you’ll often end up paying more if you try to hide neglected maintenance from the purchaser – and of course you don’t want to be guilty of fraud.
Make sure you stay in compliance with all the laws.
It’s often a good use of money to hire a home inspector to come through before you put the property on the market. If you ask in advance, they’ll often charge you a tiny rate to come back after you’ve done a bunch of minor repairs and deliver you a clean bill of health. Prospective buyers love to see an independent report on the condition of the house – it makes them feel very comfortable with the purchase.
4) Make only necessary improvements. The biggest mistake people make when getting their house ready to sell is over-improving. They often spend too much money on customized frills that can’t be recovered in the sale.
Paint is about the only safe investment – it’s easy to overspend on almost everything else, and it’s easy to get ripped off by unscrupulous contractors.
It’s important to know what improvements will produce a return on investment to avoid wasting money.
5) Get expert opinions. You should definitely find at least a few decent real estate brokers who will help you price your property, but be honest with them. If you’re going to market the property on your own, don’t make enemies by lying about your intentions. Great brokers are rare, but they make more money for their clients than they earn.
6) Have a really great marketing plan. Again, great brokers earn their value by doing this work and spreading the advertising expenses across many clients. It’s pretty expensive and time-consuming to start from scratch on your own, but if you’re already a marketing expert you’re ahead of the pack.
If you’re not, spend the time listening to what the best brokers do to sell houses in Durham – just to educate yourself on the options.
7) Get a cash offer. We buy houses all over the Durham area, and we do all the work so you don’t have to deal with any of this stuff.
8) Highlight Energy Efficiency: In today’s eco-conscious world, energy efficiency is a major selling point. If you have energy-efficient appliances, lighting, or insulation, make sure to emphasize these features. Buyers often appreciate lower utility bills and a smaller carbon footprint.
9) Stage Your Home: Staging can make a huge difference in how your home is perceived. Consider hiring a professional stager to arrange furniture and decor in a way that maximizes the appeal of each room. Well-staged homes tend to sell faster and at better prices.
10) Address Curb Appeal: First impressions matter a lot. Improve your home’s curb appeal by maintaining the landscaping, painting the front door, and ensuring the exterior is in good condition. A welcoming exterior can attract more potential buyers.
11) Transparent Pricing: Be realistic about your asking price. Overpricing can deter buyers, while underpricing can leave money on the table. Consult with real estate professionals and analyze comparable sales in your area to set a competitive and reasonable price.
12) Flexible Showings: Make it easy for potential buyers to view your home by being flexible with showing times. This might mean accommodating evening or weekend showings to accommodate different schedules. The more accessible your property is, the more opportunities you have to attract serious buyers.
13) Home Inspection: Consider getting a pre-listing home inspection. This proactive step allows you to identify and address potential issues beforehand, reducing the chances of surprises during the buyer’s inspection. It can also provide a sense of confidence to potential buyers, knowing that the property has been thoroughly assessed and well-maintained.
14) Flexible Closing Options: Be open to various closing options to accommodate the needs of different buyers. Some buyers may want a quick closing, while others may need more time. Being flexible with your closing date can make your property more appealing and attract a broader range of potential buyers.
15) Flexible Closing Options: Be open to various closing options to accommodate the needs of different buyers. Some buyers may want a quick closing, while others may need more time. Being flexible with your closing date can make your property more appealing and attract a broader range of potential buyers.
Remember, selling a house can be a complex process, and it’s essential to consider your specific market conditions and the unique features of your property. Whether you choose to make improvements, hire professionals, or explore a cash offer, the goal is to make your home as attractive and appealing to potential buyers as possible.
When you’re selling your house, cleanliness is super important. Even if your house is empty, it can still get dusty and dirty. So, it’s essential to keep it really clean. Try to make it look perfect! If you’re not great at cleaning, you could hire someone who is to help you until your house is sold. A clean house not only looks better, but it also shows that you take good care of your home, which can make buyers more interested and willing to pay a good price. So, remember, cleanliness is key when selling your house!
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Don’t Want To Do The Things Above Yourself? But Still Want To Sell Your Durham North Carolina House Fast?
While everyone wants to get as much as they possibly can from their house sale… not everyone can do the things or wants to do the things required to sell it at full retail value to an end buyer.
Doing the repairs, cleaning the property up, upgrading the property, marketing the property… those all take money and can take lots of time.
If you have the funds to do these things... AND you can wait the 3-9 months it takes to sell houses in this market… then you’ll be better off financially to do those things then list it on the MLS (the main property listing service that real estate agents use).
If you don’t have the funds to do these things... AND can’t wait months to sell your house… then you may be a perfect fit for our local Durham house buying service. You’ll submit basic info about your house over here on our website, we’ll evaluate your house, we’ll make you a fair all-cash offer on your house, and you can decide if it’s a fit for you.
Then we can close FAST (often times within 7 days) if you need us to.
Take a look at what we’ll pay you not to do anything versus the time, expense and hassle involved with doing it on your own.
If you’re wondering about the steps to sell your house in Durham, you now have two excellent choices:
Option one is to invest in fixing up the property, following the steps outlined above, to ensure you can sell it at the highest possible price.
Alternatively, you can opt for the second choice, which is to let us handle all the work. We’ll provide you with a cash offer for your house in its current AS-IS condition. This approach saves you time, money, and relieves you of the hassle of preparing the property.
If you have a property to sell in close proximity to Durham, we’re here to assist you. We specialize in purchasing properties like yours, particularly from individuals looking to make a quick sale.