Historically, the home-buying and -selling process can be slow. Without the proper insight and guidance, it isn’t uncommon for properties to stay on the market for months. Since no one wants to spend months selling and buying a house, having pro tips from the beginning is paramount to a positive experience. When all of the pieces are in place, it is possible to sell and buy a home within a month.
Want your next home-buying or -selling experience to be stress-free? Whether you’re looking for homes for sale near Destin, Florida, or selling property in a neighboring community, explore the following industry secrets for buying and selling quickly.
Work with a reliable local realtor
Are you thinking about handling the buying and selling process on your own? You might want to reconsider. Nothing can replace a local realtor's expertise, connections, and knowledge. The amount you save on representing yourself is often less than what you gain from having a top-tier real estate professional guiding you through every twist and turn.
It’s crucial to work with a reliable local realtor from day one. Working with a local real estate agent includes connections to professional networks, access to listings not yet on the market, outstanding marketing resources, being up to date on local real estate trends, foresight for potential problems and hurdles, and expert negotiating skills. Hiring a local realtor is a no-brainer.
Know what quick upgrades/improvements will add value
Want to make some quick home improvements to increase your property’s value? Having insider information on what upgrades deliver the highest ROI is vital before taking on any projects.
Some of the best home upgrades and improvements are landscaping, attic-to-bedroom conversions, porch additions, patio/deck additions, basement remodels, and minor kitchen and bathroom remodels. Window replacements are also known for having an exceptional ROI for home sellers.
Use excellent professional photos
Have you ever viewed a home listing that had less-than-professional photos? If so, your initial impression of the property probably wasn’t great. Compare that experience to one with gorgeous professional images. A professional real estate photographer will use lighting, angles, and placement to produce photos with the power to sell your property much sooner.
Invest in professional home photos while preparing your listing, so the photos capture your home fully staged, cleaned, and with any new landscaping. Since online photos are the first impression most prospective buyers have, magazine-worthy images can help you receive quality offers much sooner.
Utilize home staging services
Home staging is another core strategy for selling your property quickly. Although there is often extra expense involved, the payoff is nearly always worth it.
A professionally staged interior helps potential buyers imagine themselves living in your home. Neutral colors and decor make each room appealing to a broad audience. Renting furniture can also help fill empty spaces and replace your worn or damaged pieces. According to the latest figures, expertly staged properties spend between 33% and 50% less time on the market than those that are not.
Share your home listing on social media
If you’ve used today’s top social media platforms, you’ve likely seen people share posts of home listings. People share these posts for themselves, friends, neighbors, family, and even colleagues. If you are selling your home, don’t be shy to share your listing on social media—and encourage others to reshare!
Since you never know who is looking for a home at any time, a simple click of a button could connect your listing to a buyer willing to offer top dollar. The friends and family who initially see the listing likely won’t be your buyer, but the people they know could be. As soon as your listing goes live, share the link where it can attract the widest audience. Even when promoting your own home, there’s nothing like word-of-mouth marketing.
…and keep your eyes on social media if you are a buyer!
If you are looking for your dream home, social media can be a wonderful place to view properties you may have otherwise missed. Scroll through your feeds every so often to see if anything comes up. Since people are often eager to share property listings, you may be one of the first individuals to request a showing or make an offer.
Be flexible
This strategy is true for both buyers and sellers. Being flexible during the buying and selling process will remove much of the stress and frustration from rigid expectations. For example, if you expect to find the perfect home within the first few days of searching, you’ll likely be disappointed as this is not a realistic expectation.
The same goes for selling your property. If you believe that you should receive top offers within the first hour or two that your home is listed, you’ll inevitably feel disappointed.
Staying flexible during the home-buying and -selling process helps you avoid unrealistic expectations and see things from a different perspective. Shifting your mindset can make it easier (and less stressful) to make decisions when things are not working out exactly as you envisioned.
Have a list of non-negotiables in advance
Another top tip for both buyers and sellers is to have a list of non-negotiables ready to go. While this is more commonly recommended to buyers (e.g. having the list of features you want in a home), it can also be valuable for those selling property.
What does this look like for someone reviewing offers on their home? After discussing property values with an experienced realtor, a seller may determine a minimum selling price. They may have non-negotiables related to closing-cost offers, repair/replacement offers, and the like. Knowing what you will and will not accept can help you make quicker decisions. In a market where homes sell rapidly, being decisive is a significant advantage.
If possible, make an all-cash offer
Nothing moves real estate deals quite like all-cash offers, and both buyers and sellers benefit. Some sellers will sell their homes under “cash only” terms to expedite the closing. Alternatively, individuals selling property in high-demand areas often have ample funds to make all-cash offers. These offers are extremely attractive to sellers and can move up the closing date by weeks. By not having to deal with mortgage companies, there is far less opportunity for delay on both sides.
Are you planning on buying or selling real estate on Florida’s stunning Emerald Coast? Contact Yvonne Summerfield today with your real estate questions. Yvonne and her team can make your real estate dreams a reality. She was recognized as one of the top 1,000 realtors in the United States by REALTrends and the Wall Street Journal.
