You’ve got to move and start a new job in a matter of weeks. The problem is that you still have to sell your old home, and time isn’t exactly on your side.
That means you’re going to have to try to get rid of your house while it’s still vacant. Contrary to popular belief selling a vacant home is doable, but there is a little extra work involved.
You have to take extra care to secure the property, or squatters may settle in. Empty houses are also attractive to criminals, and most buyers won’t buy a house that they can’t see themselves in. It’s hard to envision your future in a home that’s vacant. However, we can make it possible for you to sell it as-is. We buy houses for cash at any time, reason and condition.
We’ve got a list of ways that you can combat these common issues. Check out this guide to learn more.
Up Your Curb Appeal
If you’re not going to be able to stage your home, the only thing you really have to impress buyers is your curb appeal. You’re going to have to go hard on the yard work.
For those who had to move far away from the property that they’re selling, you might have to hire a regular lawn company to come out. They’ll mow your grass and keep your hedges from getting overgrown.
You can also ask that they lay down mulch. It will bring some extra flavor to the yard, and it will stop weeds from growing out of control.
If your home doesn’t stand out too much from the others in the neighborhood, bring some attention to it by painting the front door a bright color.
Leave Your Utilities On
If you are financially able, leave the utilities in the house on. That is one of the most crucial tips for selling your house that we can give you.
The longer you leave the lights and water off, the more likely it will be that the house will need repairs. When potential buyers are touring a home, a lack of utilities may give them the impression that the property needs a lot of work done. Lastly, nobody wants to tour a home that doesn’t have AC in the middle of the summer.
Work With a Real Estate Agent
There are a few different ways that you can sell your home for cash. You could go to one of those “we buy homes for money” places or you can do everything on your own if you don’t want to pay real estate commissions.
The problem with doing everything on your own is that you’ll have to do all the marketing. You’ll also be in charge of staging the place and taking care of the paperwork.
It’s a lot of stressful work. That’s why many people get a real estate agent. They’ll place pictures of the house on home buying websites.
Some realtors will take charge of scheduling regular house cleanings, and they’ll even provide some furniture to make the vacant house look a little less empty. Trust us, hiring a real estate agent is worth the fee.
Secure the House
The biggest problem with selling vacant houses is squatters. If you don’t secure the place, they’ll break in and make themselves at home. If there’s one in the property when a buyer is taking a tour, it will scare them away, and you may face some legal trouble as well.
Do yourself a favor and make sure that the only people who can get in the home are yourself and your realtor. Lock all the windows before you leave the home, and if you have a garage, secure it.
Don’t Leave Stray Items Behind
Imagine you’re walking through an empty house you’re intending to buy, and you see a lone lamp or a single painting on the wall. It makes it look like someone ransacked the place, took what was valuable, and dipped out.
Full staging is the best way to go. If you can’t stage the house all the way, don’t bother with any type of decor at all. Go ahead and leave the place completely vacant.
Schedule Regular Cleanings
Again, if you hire a real estate agent, most of them take care of this bit for you. If you’re trying to sell the home yourself, you’ll need to hire a cleaner to come in once every three weeks or so to spruce up the place.
The last thing you want is for potential buyers to walk into a home that’s coated in dust and grime. It will drive them away from the place. If your real estate agent doesn’t hire cleaning services for you, ask if they have any recommendations.
Make Tiny Repairs
Unless you’re selling the house as-is, you’re going to have to make sure that you keep up with any little repairs. It sounds silly, but something as small as a busted lightbulb will cause potential buyers to turn up their noses.
After all, if you didn’t bother to change a light bulb, what else did you fail to fix? The good thing is that doing most tiny repairs won’t break your bank.
Get Rid of Your Vacant Home Fast
When you’ve only got a few weeks to move, you need to sell your home fast. Sometimes, fast isn’t fast enough, however, and you have to leave your house empty.
You can still sell a vacant home, but as you can see, there’s a lot more work involved. If you fail to keep the place up while you’re not in it, you’re going to be sitting on it for a long time. For more tips that will help you with your property selling endeavors, explore the rest of our blog.