How to Sell a Less Than Perfect House

Have you ever searched online for information on how to sell your house successfully? Chances are, you’ve encountered a wealth of advice on the importance of hitting the market with your home meticulously upgraded and professionally staged. “It should be worthy of a magazine,” experts say. But what if yours isn’t?

Not every house can make the cover of Better Homes & Gardens. Even if yours could, there are many reasons why you might not want to go to the trouble or don’t have the proper market timing. Preparing your home to this level takes a significant amount of time and money, and there are never any guarantees that you’ll earn a substantial return on investment.

Other times, a homeowner may need to sell quickly, or just may not be up to the task of a remodelling project. In this case, you’ll need a strategy to sell a house that is less than perfect. Fortunately, that’s what this post is all about!

Are you aiming for a fast, profitable, and streamlined sale? Start by booking a complimentary seller’s consultation with us right here.

Start With an Accurate Assessment

In any market, the best houses tend to get snapped up quickly, even when sales are slow everywhere else. If you don’t have that advantage, you need a well-thought-out plan, which begins with an honest assessment of where you stand now. Good or bad, it’s critical to know how much your house will be worth in the current market.

• You may find that your anticipated results may be satisfactory after all. Though you might earn more if you take the time to renovate, you can still come out ahead if you originally purchased the home at a much lower price.
• You may also uncover minor areas of improvement that won’t cost much but will likely increase your results significantly.
• When you understand how much your home is worth versus what it could be worth, you can make informed decisions about what to do next. You may even change your mind and decide to make some strategic upgrades if they are going to have a massive impact. A local real estate agent can lay the groundwork by providing you with a home evaluation.

Do you want an accurate assessment of how much your property is worth in today’s market? Book your free home evaluation and market analysis right here.

Focus on the Right Buyer

Selling a cosmetically imperfect house is often about attracting a different type of buyer. You likely won’t have much luck with someone with their hearts set on a move-in ready home – unless you’re willing to offer a significant concession on price.

Your listing may attract investors and house flippers, but again, you may earn less than your property is worth. Instead, it might be better to find a buyer who has the skills and passion to fix up older properties.

Some people are unlikely to care much about certain defects since they want to remodel the home from top to bottom. For example, a leaking roof is a dealbreaker in most cases. However, it’s a non-issue for someone who plans to add another level anyway.

Every selling situation is a little different. Learn more about some of the most common scenarios in the posts below:

• Should I Accept A Bully Offer When Selling My Home?
• Navigating Divorce? How To Choose The Right Realtor®
• How to Sell an Inherited Home

Accentuate the Positive

Your house itself may need a little love and attention to restore it to its former glory. However, there is more to real estate than the four walls themselves. You have undoubtedly heard the old slogan, “location, location, location,” and it’s true. A fixer-upper in a sought-after neighbourhood will often sell faster and for more money than a perfect listing in a less popular area.

To start with, your real estate agent needs to know your neighbourhood inside and out so they can highlight its best features to potential buyers. The great parks, highly-rated schools, and other exceptional amenities can all make your home even more desirable. Is there a public transit stop a block away from your home? That is another plus, especially if the buyer has family members who do not drive.

In addition, try to reframe some of the attributes that you may otherwise perceive as a negative. For example, you may think that buyers are primarily searching for homes with open-concept layouts. Your closed-floor plan may feel like a strike against you – until you realize that buyers with families or where someone works from home will actually appreciate the extra noise control and privacy.

You don’t necessarily have to remodel your home to make your listing stand out. You’ll find some of the easiest and fastest ways to get results in the posts below:

• What Are The Fastest Ways To Add Value To Your Home When Selling?
• What to Look For in a Real Estate Agent When Selling Your Home
• Can You Earn More Money By Staging Your Home?

Targeted Marketing Is Essential

Though every listing requires promotion, it becomes even more critical when selling a house as-is. Some buyer segments won’t even consider making an offer unless the house is move-in ready, so it’s important to have a plan to reach the right type of person. Your real estate agent will focus on some channels more than others to zero in on someone who will be happy to offer a fair price for your listing.

In addition, a successful transaction is sometimes more about who you know and who you can get in touch with than anything else. An established real estate team will have an extensive network of buyers, many of whom might be perfectly happy with a home they can renovate to their vision.

Finding a buyer may take time and patience, and you’ll want to give yourself every possible advantage to stand out against other listings that may have undergone significant upgrades. The single best advantage you can have is to work with a knowledgeable and well-connected real estate agent who can help you find your strengths. When you’re facing a particular challenge (like selling an imperfect home), this expertise and guidance is even more valuable.

Do you want to sell your home with the least amount of stress? Our full-service Etobicoke real estate agents can handle the entire process from start to finish. Reach out to 647-282-7653 or email contact@thompsonsells.com to learn more about our services.