You want to sell your property quickly, but don’t want to set the price too low? Well, get in line because that’s what many, many homeowners want. Dallas’ real estate market is competitive, dynamic, and fast-paced. Buyers have a good deal of properties to choose from so you’ll need more than just luck to close the deal.
And speaking of buyers, you have a lot of different types of them. Everybody from first-time buyers to cash investors are looking for the best opportunity, and if you don’t prepare (both yourself and your property), you’ll end up being overlooked.
However, there are ways to close faster than most, and lucky for you, we’re about to share some of them with you, so keep reading and let’s make that sale.
Prepare Your Home
Potential buyers will form their opinion within moments of arriving, so it’s very important to be prepared and to make a good first impression. Here’s what to do.
1. Boost Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is the term that refers to how attractive your home looks from the stress, and if it looks inviting, it will attract more buyers.
Make sure the exterior is cleaned and well-maintained because that sends the message that the property has been cared for. Even the simplest changes can make an impact; keep the lawn mowed and trimmed, add a few colorful potted plants, and paint your front door to quickly make the house look nicer.
2. Declutter and Remove Personal Items
Once your buyers are inside the house, you want them to be able to see themselves living there. This means that there shouldn’t be any clutter or personalized decor because that will distract them.
First, declutter. It will make the house feel bigger and more open, and everybody likes a spacious home. Get rid of all unnecessary furniture to improve flow and make every room feel airy. Countertops and closets should be clean because buyers will want to see everything during viewing.
Second, remove personal items. That photo of your child’s kindergarten play might be cute, but buyers don’t need to see it. Store everything personalized so that the buyers can envision their own things in the house.
3. Small Repairs
Small details can make a big impact, so a dripping faucet may very well repel buyers.
Check every nook and cranny of the house and see what needs to be repaired. If the property looks like they can just move right in, that’s a huge selling point and in a competitive market, you need every edge you can get.
Chipped paint, creaky floors, faulty lights, loose door handles… Buyers will notice it all, so take some time to do the repairs.
Negotiation and Tips for Closing
This is the final phase of the sale, so you really don’t want things to go wrong here. Let’s look at some tips.
1. Know Your Buyer(s)
You’ll need to know who you’re dealing with to be able to negotiate effectively.
If it’s a first-time buyer, they’ll probably be more flexible about move-in dates, which can work to your advantage if you need some time before vacating the property. However, they might need a longer closing period because mortgages aren’t approved overnight, plus you have to think about strict loan conditions. They can also ask for help with closing costs.
Home cash buyers in Dallas don’t need a mortgage, so the selling will go faster and you can expect to close the deal within days instead of weeks. If you’re looking for a quick sale, cash buyers are your best bet. There’s been a rise in cash buyers, especially investors, in Dallas because of its strong housing demand and great rental yields.
Investors will want things to go fast, but they’ll usually try to take the price down. They focus on the numbers, so expect detailed inspections and negotiations about repair costs and potential profit margins. If you don’t mind negotiating price and terms, you’ll probably be looking at a fast, simple sale.
2. Offer Incentives
Small perks can tip the scales in your favor, so you can offer to cover a portion of the closing costs, for example. Or you can offer to include appliances and/or furniture in the sale, especially if they’re custom. A warranty is another attractive incentive; you could offer to pay for any potential repairs for the first year after the sale.
3. Be Flexible with Showings and Move-Out Dates
If you want to sell fast, you’ll need to be flexible. Be available for evening and weekend showings because buyers usually have tight schedules, so adjust accordingly. Flexible move-out dates are another huge plus and if your buyers are on a strict timeline, they’ll see that as a benefit.
Conclusion
Just because the market is competitive and you’re trying to make a fast sale doesn’t mean you’ll have to set your price too low. Even in a crowded market, if you prepare your home and know how to negotiate with your buyers, you’ll be successful. And if you’re willing to meet your buyers halfway about the price, that will make the sale go faster.
If you’re happy with the price, though, offer incentives and be ready to move in as soon as the right offer comes in.
