Many people ask, what do I need to do to sell my house In Fairfax VA? There are many tips that you can follow and sale your house in Fairfax VA.
But “What do I need to do to sell my house in Fairfax“?
Here are some tips on how to get your home ready to sell if you’re looking for top dollar that the market will bear:
*NOTE: These instructions are if you’re looking to get full retail value for your house sale. However, if you don’t want to do the things below… or don’t have the time or money to do the things below… you can still sell your Fairfax house fast for a fair value in a win-win sale that’ll save you time and expense.
1) Clean, clean and clean. Even vacant houses get dusty and dirty, so keep it up! Nothing short of gleaming perfection will impress buyers. If you’re not a total clean freak, hire someone who is to help you out until you sell.
If you’re a slob, consider finding somewhere else to live while you show your house. Maybe you can bribe your cleanest friend to trade houses with you? Seriously, keeping everything immaculate really helps buyers feel comfortable in your space. Nothing stops people faster from buying faster than feeling grossed out.
2) Cultivate a cohesive, neutral style. You don’t have to paint everything off-white. In fact, some subtle colors can really help change the perception of spaces – for example, a soft yellow will help brighten up a dark kitchen, while a deep dark blue or green will help a bright bedroom to feel like a calm place to sleep (but be careful, dark colors will also make rooms feel small).
Spend the money to get high-quality paint and professional help. Subconsciously people will pay more money for a property with just the right colors and very neat lines – it makes the home feel better built, even though it’s just paint.
Optical illusions are real, and psychologists study this stuff. Don’t believe me?
Look it up. And don’t neglect the outside and just do the inside, or anything else that’s unbalanced.
3) Fix or replace anything that’s broken. Yeah, it might feel like a waste of money to spend an extra couple hundred bucks on a dishwasher that someone else might just pull out and replace again. But really, quite a few buyers will get a home inspection and use the opportunity to negotiate with you. As the seller, you’ll often end up paying more if you try to hide neglected maintenance from the purchaser – and of course you don’t want to be guilty of fraud.
Make sure you stay in compliance with all the laws.
It’s often a good use of money to hire a home inspector to come through before you put the property on the market. If you ask in advance, they’ll often charge you a tiny rate to come back after you’ve done a bunch of minor repairs and deliver you a clean bill of health. Prospective buyers love to see an independent report on the condition of the house – it makes them feel very comfortable with the purchase.
4) Make only necessary improvements. The biggest mistake people make when getting their house ready to sell is over-improving. They often spend too much money on customized frills that can’t be recovered in the sale.
Paint is about the only safe investment – it’s easy to overspend on almost everything else, and it’s easy to get ripped off by unscrupulous contractors.
It’s important to know what improvements will produce a return on investment to avoid wasting money.
5) Get expert opinions. You should definitely find at least a few decent real estate brokers who will help you price your property, but be honest with them. If you’re going to market the property on your own, don’t make enemies by lying about your intentions. Great brokers are rare, but they make more money for their clients than they earn.
6) Have a really great marketing plan. Again, great brokers earn their value by doing this work and spreading the advertising expenses across many clients. It’s pretty expensive and time-consuming to start from scratch on your own, but if you’re already a marketing expert you’re ahead of the pack.
If you’re not, spend the time listening to what the best brokers do to sell houses in Fairfax – just to educate yourself on the options.
7) Get a cash offer. We buy houses all over the Fairfax area, and we do all the work so you don’t have to deal with any of this stuff.
Don’t Want To Do The Things Above Yourself? But Still Want To Sell Your Fairfax VA House Fast?
While everyone wants to get as much as they possibly can from their house sale… not everyone can do the things or wants to do the things required to sell it at full retail value to an end buyer.
Doing the repairs, cleaning the property up, upgrading the property, marketing the property… those all take money and can take lots of time.
If you have the funds to do these things... AND you can wait the 3-9 months it takes to sell houses in this market… then you’ll be better off financially to do those things then list it on the MLS (the main property listing service that real estate agents use).
If you don’t have the funds to do these things... AND can’t wait months to sell your house… then you may be a perfect fit for our local Fairfax house buying service. You’ll submit basic info about your house over here on our website, we’ll evaluate your house, we’ll make you a fair all-cash offer on your house, and you can decide if it’s a fit for you.
Then we can close FAST (often times within 7 days) if you need us to.
Take a look at what we’ll pay you not to do anything versus the time, expense and hassle involved with doing it on your own.
So if you’re still asking “what do I need to do to sell my house in Fairfax“… now you have 2 solid options.
Either…
- Fix the property up and get it all nice and ready with the steps above to sell it at top dollar
- Let us do all of the work and we’ll make you a cash offer on your house in AS-IS condition. This saves you time, money, and gets the hassle off of your hands.
If you need to sell a property near Fairfax, we can help you.
We buy properties like yours from people who need to sell fast.
FSBO paperwork
FSBO paperwork is an important part of the selling process. The right documents can ensure a smooth closing and avoid costly mistakes. There are several forms that are legally required, and some that are optional. The key to finding the right document is to ask a real estate professional.
A Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) is a great tool to help you price your home properly. It is free and will help you to set a realistic listing price. It will also help you avoid common pricing mistakes.
A Home Inspection Report is another important document to have. Your home inspector will evaluate your home from top to bottom. He or she will note any safety concerns and potential issues that could affect the value of your home.
Home inspections
Getting a home inspection when selling a house in Fairfax is not always necessary. However, it can provide great peace of mind and make you more confident when making an offer on a new home.
A pre-sale home inspection can help you to price a home more accurately and make sure that any problems are repaired. This can help you to negotiate a better deal on your new home.
The home inspector will inspect the entire structure of the home. They look for structural damage, mold, and dangerous pests. They will also check the electrical system and plumbing.
They will commonly find damaged or exposed wiring from previous renovations. This can be costly to repair. If the wiring is faulty, it could pose a serious safety hazard. It can also lead to a life-threatening house fire.
FSBO to-do list
FSBO stands for “For Sale by Owner”. It is the term used when a home seller is marketing their own home for sale. It is also a term used to describe a listing agent. FSBOs are a good choice for a seller in a hot market as they can save on commissions.
To be successful, you’ll need to learn the local market. This includes identifying comparable properties for sale, making a comparative market analysis, and figuring out the best way to price your home.
To market your home for sale, you’ll need to research the best home staging practices and take advantage of online tools. Social media such as Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are great free marketing options.
If you’re selling your home on your own, you may also need to hire an appraiser. You can find local appraisers by performing an online search or by asking your mortgage provider.
Common contingencies
Whether you’re buying or selling a house in Fairfax, there are many common contingencies you’ll want to be aware of. Knowing about them beforehand can help you get the best deal possible and reduce your risks.
Most real estate contracts will have one or more financing contingencies. These conditions give the buyer time to secure a mortgage. The mortgage amount will be held by the buyer’s down payment in an escrow account. If the buyer’s application fails, the contingency gives the buyer an opportunity to walk away.
Inspection contingencies are also common. These conditions give the buyer the right to back out of the deal if the home inspection reveals serious flaws. These can be applied to any part of the home. For instance, if the inspection reveals termite infestations, the buyer can request that the seller fix the problem.
Selling your house for cash
Getting a cash offer on your house in Fairfax can save you time, money, and hassle. While it may not be the easiest option, a cash offer will ensure you get your home sold quickly.
Whether you are trying to sell a house in Fairfax because you need to relocate, want to downsize, or just want to make a fresh start, a cash offer will get the job done. In fact, cash offers account for one quarter of all home sales each year.
Depending on the type of home you’re selling, there are many different options for how to get a cash offer. You can use a real estate agent, sell your home “For Sale By Owner,” or find a we buy houses company.
A real estate agent will charge a commission based on the value of your home. While this can be a good way to save money, it’s important to make sure you get an accurate valuation. Using a reputable home valuation company will help ensure that you’re getting a fair offer.
