All You Need To Know, For A Fast House Sale

So, you’ve decided you would like to or need to move house. While this should be an exciting time for anyone, it usually leads to a not insignificant amount of stress and sleepless nights. For some sellers, they can strike it lucky and receive an offer within a week of placing the home on the market. For others, however, the process can drag on for many months and sadly, when a home in on the market for too long, potential buyers begin to ask themselves why. Is it because there is an issue of the property that they are unaware of? Is the seller trustworthy?

It is clear, therefore, that having the ability to sell a house fast provides a host of benefits. But how can you, as a seller, encourage a fast house sale?

• Don’t be greedy when setting an asking price
  When a surveyor looks at a house to determine its value, it’s never guess work. Not only do they look at the structural aspects of the property, but they also take into account the crime stats for the area, the availability of local amenities such as shops, and the prices of comparable homes that have been sold recently. Depending on the strength of the economy, some sellers feel that their house should be worth more, but setting a high asking price for no reason is more likely to deter buyers rather than attract them¹.
• Choose the right estate agent
  With so may estate agents up and down the country, it can often be hard to determine which agent will offer your home the best chance of selling. While there are numerous online estate agents that you can use who offer flat-rate fees, more often than not they do not have the in-depth knowledge of a local high street agent who has been selling in that location for many years. A suitable agent will be able to draw on that knowledge to create a great strategy to sell your home².
• Keep your home at showroom quality
  Nobody enjoys cleaning, but most people love a clean house – and this is true for buyers. When you learn that you have a viewing scheduled, it’s very important that the house is clean, tidy, and smelling nice before they arrive. The best way to do this is to live as cleanly as possible for the duration of the sale, and do everything you can to help a potential buyer imagine themselves moving in³.
• Remove your personality
  You may have put a lot of your self into the decorative schemes inside your home, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a buyer will share your tastes. When a buyer attends a viewing, they want to be able to imagine themselves and their possessions in your home, so make sure you go for clean, airy colours that reflect light such as cream or white paint on your walls³.

• Take care of the exterior
  Many sellers work very hard on the inside of their home, but often neglect the external facades. From carbon stains due to pollution, to unvarnished window sills – these are often the first things a potential buyer sees when they arrive for a viewing and if they aren’t impressed, you can find your home on the market for much longer than expected⁴.
• Hire a professional photographer
  While many agents will choose to take photographs themselves, you can also step in and tell them that you wish to hire a professional photographer. While the latest smartphone technology allows us to take some fantastic photos, the knowledge of perspective, lighting and positions that a professional will possess – combined with the type of lenses used – will provide you with photos that make you home look spacious, classy and worth buying⁴.
• Be personable during viewings
  No matter the industry, in sales a potential buyer will always feel happier hearing about their potential purchase based on the attitude and personality of the salesman. If you find yourself giving potential buyers personal viewings, then go out of your way to help them feel welcome³.
• Prepare your paperwork
  It is often shocking how often a house sale is prevented from being completed as a result of the seller not having the documents from utility and land registry services. If you wish to sell your home fast, it is important to liaise with your solicitor or conveyancer as soon as possible so that they can get the important paperwork ready¹. If a buyer learns that it will be a while before they can complete, this may convince them to look elsewhere.

Other options to encourage a fast a house sale

While the majority of vendors do go through the traditional process of hiring an agent, there are a few other approaches that may offer a faster route:

• Auction Houses
  Auction houses are well known to be responsible for some extremely fast sales – if it sells. The majority of houses that sell well in auctions are quirky, unusual homes due to interest, whereas standard homes can be a toss-up. Another point to bear in mind is that regardless of whether you sell or not, you will still have to pay the auctioneers fees⁵.
• Private Sale
  While it is excruciatingly hard, it is possible to sell a house yourself. This will, however, require a lot of work and time. The only occasion when a private sale is worth prioritising is when you know someone who definitely wants to buy your house, saving you estate agency fees⁵.
• House Buying Companies
  There are numerous house-buying companies who are willing to buy your house for case, often in as little as two weeks from the date of the first enquiry. These companies will provide you with a quote that you can accept or reject, and if you are happy with it, you can sell your home and move on with your life without worrying⁶.

Are you interested in selling your house for cash? Why not ask National Homebuyers for advice, as we buy any house. Call 08000 443 911 or request a call back to find out how much you could get for your property before it’s too late.

References:

¹Sewraz, R. (2020). How to sell your house. Available: https://www.which.co.uk/money/mortgages-and-property/home-movers/selling-a-house/how-to-sell-your-house-ag7vc4f7dyj3. Last accessed 30th January 2021.

²Sproson, K. (2020). How to sell your property Including tips on estate agents and getting the best price. Available: https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/mortgages/how-to-sell-a-house/. Last accessed 30th January 2021.

³Anon. (2020). Top Tips: How to make your home more valuable and sell faster. Available: https://hoa.org.uk/advice/guides-for-homeowners/i-am-selling/top-tips-how-to-make-your-home-more-saleable-and-valuable/. Last accessed 30th January 2021.

⁴Sheldon, J. (2019). Selling a house? How to sell your home quickly – top tips for getting price you want FAST. Available: https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/property/1112345/selling-a-house-process-quickly-selling-your-house-fast-property-selling-tips. Last accessed 30th January 2021.

⁵Brazg, G. (2020). I Need to Sell My House Fast, What Are My Options?. Available: https://www.theadvisory.co.uk/sell-house-fast/. Last accessed 30th January 2021.

⁶Anon. (2020). Quick house sales. Available: https://www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en/articles/quick-house-sales. Last accessed 30th January 2021.