Selling your Killeen Texas home is never a simple process. But it can be especially difficult if you have to sell your Killeen house fast. Although I have to admit, I would rather have the opportunity to make you a cash offer on your house, I’m also here to help so here is some advice that might help you a bit if you do decide to list with an agent or go the FSBO route. NOTE: I DO NOT recommend trying to sell a house through a traditional listing yourself. I know you don’t want to pay agent fees, etc *but* it is shown time and time again that you will get a better price (and faster) with a good agent. And it saves you a ton of headaches. Just sayin…
Tip #1: Increase The Odds
The first thing you should do to improve your chances of selling your house fast is to “stage” your home. This is when you make your house look as attractive as possible to potential buyers.
Consider the “curb appeal” of your home by putting yourself in the shoes of your prospective buyers. What do they see when they pull up in front of your house? Consider what type of relatively inexpensive, fast improvements you can make – such as landscaping or neatening up your front lawn – that will make your house more desirable.
If you don’t have time to clean the inside of your home yourself, spend a few bucks and have a local Killeen cleaning service do it for you. Then, once it’s cleaned, keep as many areas as possible off limits so that it stays neat and tidy. You may want to eat out until your home is sold!
If you don’t have time to do home staging yourself, there are plenty of local home staging companies out there… just head to Google and type “Killeen home staging companies”.
Tip #2: Upgrade/Repair
THis first tip is really the most basic but also the most important. To get the most out of your house and do it quickly, it should be clean, updated and up to date on repairs, which, depending on your situation, may be a bit daunting!
First, repairs. I realize all of this is subjective but if you want to ask top dollar expect to check/repair all major systems and things attached to them. Honestly, we get used to the flaws around us that a buyer would see as a red flag. That little hole in the drywall looks like the mouth of a cave to a potential buyer! A noisy AC or the smell of cigarettes is a no go for many people.
At a minimum, the HVAC, windows, doors, roof, plumbing and electrical should all be checked and repaired or expect them to be a sticking point down the line.
In terms of improvements, that is even more subjective but again, the older/shabbier the appointments, the less desirable a property becomes. Obviously, you can go nuts improving but if you don’t want to invest a lot of money in major improvements, such as a kitchen or bathroom remodel there are a lot of small things you can do to make a difference, increase the value of your home and make it more attractive to buyers.
The things that we always address when renovating a home are light fixtures, plumbing fixtures, paint, roof (more of a repair but…), doors (at least replace any that are broken) and then more broadly, kitchens and bathrooms. Most of these things can be done DIY on the weekends and shouldn’t cost more than a few hundred dollars but can add real value (and appeal!) to your home.
Of course, I realize that It’s not always possible to make the repairs and upgrades that are needed. Sometimes a budget is just too tight, the repairs are too large or perhaps you are trying to get things done from out of state. Well, it just so happens I would love to help so feel free to give us a call.
Tip #3: Don’t Distract
When potential buyers look at your home, they want to see it as their new place, not your existing one. Help create this illusion by removing belongings that personalize your home, such as family pictures, cramped closets and general clutter. Basically, you want people to be able to envision themselves in the space and most people aren’t that great at doing that when there is sink full of dirty dishes 🙂
Depending on how much stuff you have it may be worthwhile to rent a storage unit for the time you are selling your home and move as much of your stuff as possible there to keep it out of the way. The more open space you can create, the bigger your rooms will look. It’s a kind of bummer to have to do that *but* $100 and an afternoon could net you thousands at the closing table!
Also, as you clear out some space it will probably give you an opportunity to clean and make small repairs. I honestly think that’s one reason why my vacant renovated houses sell so quickly. Buyers can see every inch and don’t have to worry what’s hiding under the bed!
Bonus Tip!!!: Be Flexible & Communicate
SO, this is really where most sellers fall down, particularly if you are going the FSBO route. you will talk to a ton of tire kickers, weirdos, low-ballers and just generally unqualified people. It’s just part of the deal and one of the reasons I recommend working with an agent… or selling to us!
Answer the phone, be nice, have information ready to share. Honestly, most people are far worse communicators than they think. Maybe it’s the internet sapping those skills, maybe it’s just that talking real estate is foreign to most folks. Know what your offering, know where you have some wiggle room and don’t get discouraged!
House Selling Tips in Killeen: Conclusion
If you want to avoid having to do any of that and just want a quick and effective sale so you can walk away… we can help.
Check out our Liberty Home Buyers local home buying program.
Just reach out to us or fill out the form on this website so we can quickly look at your situation and make you a fast-fair cash offer on your Texas house.
