So you need to sell your house before the new year, whether for tax benefits or a job relocation or whatever reason. The new year is fast approaching so selling your house in Northwest Arkansas may seem like a daunting process at this point. The market at this time of year usually isn’t very hot, but competition is less stiff and buyers are motivated. So it will take some work – working on curb appeal, making improvements, and hiring an agent. Here are my tips for selling your house before the new year in Northwest Arkansas.
Get an Inspection Now
Often, you will be advised against spending money on an inspection (generally ranging from about $270 to almost $400) because the buyer will have to get one done prior to closing. But this advice misses a very important point. And that is that you need to be aware of any problems ahead of time – before they are discovered in the buyer’s inspection. That way, you can be proactive and address any problems ahead of time and have the house in tip-top shape before the buyer’s inspection. Also, if any problems are readily apparent to potential buyers, they may not place any offers to become actual buyers. So, a pre-inspection is a very valuable tool to help you maximize your sale price and minimize time on market.
Take Care of the Appearance Early
On the same principle as having an inspection done early on, you should also take care of the home’s appearance early in the process. Selling your house at a good price depends on it. So here are some of the things you need to do to put your best foot forward:
- Paint any dirty or strangely colored interior walls and touch up exterior paint where needed.
- Get the entryways in order by sweeping and cleaning, possibly installing new entry door(s), and adding adornments like seasonal decorations.
- Take care of landscaping tasks like raking leaves, trimming shrubs, and laying down new mulch.
- Powerwash your exterior, concrete surfaces, and wood fences to knock off the years of grime that have naturally built up since you’ve been living there.
Have a Marketing Plan
If you choose to go it alone and do an FSBO deal instead of using an agent, you’ll have to devise a marketing strategy and do a lot of marketing work. You’ll need to use all the traditional marketing channels like listing sites, classifieds, Facebook groups, and even Craigslist, along with effective online marketing like creating virtual tours. If this all this sounds too far out of your area of expertise or beyond the amount of time you can invest, a qualified agent will be your best bet for selling your house. (479) 777-3379
Set the Price Judiciously
You can do the extensive research yourself, including running a comparative analysis, in order to figure the competitive market value for selling your house. Or you can let a trained agent do all this for you. Whichever way you decide to go, you absolutely do not want the price to cause your house to set too long on the market unsold, becoming what is called ‘stale.”
An agent can help you price strategically – neither too high nor too low, but at the optimal spot on the possible range of prices. Getting the price right the first time around can save you a lot of money, time, and frustration. The trick is getting the price as high as possible without crossing over the line where it will drive buyers away.
Choose a Good Local Real Estate Agent When Selling Your House
If selling your house before the new year in Northwest Arkansas is truly your goal, then you need the services of a local agent. With their finger on the pulse of the local market and possibly a list of interested buyers already in hand, a local agent can help you sell more quickly. Just be sure to interview possible agents, asking them about sales records, marketing packages, and their recent listings.