Do you need to know how to sell your house fast while moving? There is a lot
involved in buying a house and selling a house at the same time, but there are
steps you can take to be completely prepared! Below, we created a guideline
of detailed steps and considerations to help you through this common
process.
- Investigate the housing market.
The very first thing you should do when deciding to sell your house fast while
you’re in the middle of moving is to investigate the current market. This gives
you an advantage when dealing with both agents and buyers, and will help you
right-size your own expectations. When investigating, consider the following:
● Price – What are similar houses in your area going for? When
researching similar houses, consider the age and condition of the home,
the specific area, and amenities such as schools, restaurants and other
services. You can estimate your own home’s value by using the price
per square foot of the houses that are similar to yours that have sold
recently.
● Time on market – It is very important for you to know the average time
on market for the houses in your neighborhood. Time on market refers
to how long a house is listed for sale before it sells. Knowing the time
on market will help you better prepare for the timing when moving and
selling at the same time.
● What type of market – Is the market in your area a buyer’s market or a
seller’s market? The type of market will influence your sale strategy. A
seller’s market would give you the greatest advantage when selling your
home. A seller’s market can be caused by low inventory and high
demand, but there are other factors that could contribute to it as well. In
a seller’s market, time on market will be low and housing prices will be
higher. However, since you are both moving and selling, a buyer’s
market has advantages as well. In a buyer’s market, sellers are more
anxious to sell and you will have more wiggle room to negotiate a better
price.
- Get and appraisal and consider getting
an inspection.
The next few suggestions’ order can be swapped, but the next thing you
should do is to get as much information about your own property as possible.
An agent can help you determine the price of your house, but having hard
facts ahead of time will give you an advantage with buyers, and will speed up
the sale of your house since your agent will have less leg work to do. Getting
your house appraised gives you a great general idea of the price you can offer.
Buyers who are pre-approved for a loan will know exactly what price they can
afford, so this information will be very helpful to them. Additionally, having an
inspection done will shorten the negotiating process, as buyers will already
know exactly what is wrong with the house (and so will you).
- Understand WHY you are selling your
home.
Understanding WHY exactly you want to sell your house will help you to know
what you are willing to compromise on when the selling and buying process
begins. While it is important to communicate this to your agent so they
understand your specific needs, you do not want to share this information
with sellers when you look at houses to buy. If they know what you can
compromise, you may not get the best deal.
- Find the right agent.
Make sure you get an agent that understands what you want and is willing to
listen. Make sure they know that timing is crucial, and that they are
knowledgeable about your neighborhood, and the neighborhood in which you
want to buy.
- Decide what to fix and what to leave
alone.
After your inspection, you should already have a good idea of what you want
to fix and what you are going to leave alone. Your agent can also help you
decide what repairs, if any, will give you the biggest bang for your buck. Ask
your agent what repairs will increase the value of the house the most, and
what repairs if left alone won’t affect the selling price much.
- Prepare the house for sale.
Preparing the house for sale includes repairs, but also includes things like
landscaping and staging the inside of the house. We talk about this all the
time, but it bears repeating. Consider repainting and new carpet using neutral
and universally liked colors. Anything too specific or creative might limit your
buyer’s ability to picture themselves in the home – give them a blank canvas!
Some sellers choose to have a house professionally staged, but if that isn’t an
option, just make sure to keep your house extra-clean and clutter free. Make
sure your furniture is arranged in a way that makes best use of each space,
especially for rooms that are unusual.
- Be a smart seller.
We could write a whole post on this! Here are some suggestions:
● Market your house to get as many prospects as possible – Use popular
house marketing websites, but also consider local ads (such as
Greensheet), social media and referral marketing (ask your friends to
tell their friends!) Even if someone expresses interest, don’t limit your
options. Keep marketing until the house is SOLD.
● Make sure contracts are complete: Read offers and contracts
completely, and ask your agent to explain anything you don’t
understand.
● Disclose everything – No one likes surprises when they are buying a
house! Unless you plan to dish out some surprise bonuses – buyers
would probably like that.
● Make SURE buyers are qualified – If your buyer is not pre-qualified by a
lender, then don’t even consider their offer.
- Try not to sign on your next house before
finding a buyer for yours.
This last part is the trickiest: the timing of selling your old house and buying a
new one. Ideally, you want both closings to happen on the same day or within
a couple days of each other, but obviously things don’t always work out this
way. That is why we suggested above that you try not to sign on your new
house until someone has signed on your old one. Financially, it would be
better to rent a hotel for a few nights or weeks than to pay two mortgages,
etc., at the same time. One option for owning both houses at the same time, if
there is no way around it, is to utilize bridge financing.
- Are you overwhelmed yet?
If all this sounds like a LOT to worry about…it kind of is! But people like you do
it every day, and the process won’t be new to your agent.
Another way to create a smooth transition from one house to the next is to
work with real estate investors like _____. While you may not get
the full price for your house, you also won’t have to worry about paying for
agents, repairs or staging, and you will know exactly when the house will close
(you get to choose!) You will also have guaranteed cash in hand at closing, so
you don’t have to worry about a buyer’s financing falling through.
Contact us for a free, no-risk quote within
24 hours.
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