About 65% of homes in the United States are owner-occupied. Sometimes, homeowners get into difficult situations and need to sell a house fast.
Are you in over your head on a mortgage or don’t want to deal with home repairs or other issues? You can sell a house yourself to save on real estate agent fees. If you do decide to sell your house yourself, there are some things you should know.
Keep reading for a guide on how to sell your house by owner in Chicago.
Price Is Important to sell a house
No house sells fast unless it’s priced realistically. There are several factors to take into account when setting a fair house price.
How much are comparable homes in the neighborhood selling for? Comparable homes are homes like your home. They have the same number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and other features.
Neighborhoods vary a lot so don’t look outside your neighborhood when looking at comps. Look at the condition of your home. Is it in excellent condition or does it need a lot of work?
How does your home look in comparison to other homes in your neighborhood currently on the market?
The key is not to price your home too high or too low. Too high and buyers won’t bother looking at it. Too low and you’ll walk away from potential profit.
Declutter First
To get the best price for your home, there are a few things you must do. The first is to declutter the entire house. It takes some time and effort but it pays off.
Remove family photos, personal and religious items, and political items. These items are a distraction for buyers.
A potential buyer needs to picture himself in your home. It’s much easier if the home isn’t full of personal items.
Go through every room in the house and take out all the unnecessary items. This is a great opportunity to make a little extra cash. You can sell anything you no longer need.
Give away whatever you don’t want to keep and put the rest of the things in temporary storage.
Clean, Clean, Clean
Buyers won’t pay top dollar for a dirty house. A dirty home also sends a subconscious sign of neglect to buyers.
You need to do more than vacuum and dust. Like decluttering, go through each room and give it a top-to-bottom cleaning.
Bathrooms should shine. Make sure there’s no mold in the shower. If the shower curtain liner is moldy, replace it with a new one.
Are your kitchen countertops cluttered with appliances? Remove as many appliances as possible while you’re showing the house. Empty countertops give the kitchen a spacious feel.
Do a deep scrub of the stove and clean the oven. Deep clean countertops, sinks, and faucets and scrub the kitchen floor.
Potential buyers will open cabinets and drawers, so declutter the insides too.
Declutter your closets and put anything you’re not using in storage. Closets overstuffed with clothes and shoes appear small.
Fresh Paint
Paint is inexpensive and a new coat of interior paint goes a long way toward making the home feel clean and fresh. If you don’t have the time or money to paint, clean the walls.
Do you have flat, satin, or eggshell finishes on your wall paint? Use a soft sponge with warm water and don’t scrub. Gently wipe the walls down.
Semigloss and gloss finishes are tougher but don’t scrub too hard on this type of paint finish either. Use a soft sponge and mild degreaser in warm water to wipe down the walls.
No matter what type of paint you’re cleaning, always use a white lint-free cloth. A colored cloth could end up staining the walls.
If you decide to paint, stick with neutral colors.
Let the Light Shine
Scrub the windows outside and inside. Clean the drapes and blinds and open them all the way when showing the house. Switch out heavy draperies for light curtains if possible to let more light in.
Put the highest wattage bulb appropriate in overhead light fixtures and lamps. Do you have a small, dark bedroom with only one window? Place a pretty mirror strategically across from a window to let more light into the room.
Curb Appeal
The first thing buyers see is the front of the house. This is where you entice them inside.
Keep the lawn mowed and the shrubs, trees, and bushes trimmed. Clean up any garden beds and spread some fresh mulch for a clean look.
Pressure wash the front walkway, driveway, and outside of the house. How does the front door and entryway look? Consider putting a fresh coat of paint or stain on the front door if it looks old and dingy.
A few container plants add a nice inviting touch to a front porch or entryway.
Another Good Option to Sell a House in Chicago
If you don’t have the time or budget to do these things first, it’s harder to sell your house fast for a good price. There is another option. At URB Chicago, you can get a fast online quote to sell your house as-is.
We’ll buy a house in any condition, and we buy it for cash. You can sell your house in as little as a week with this service and you’ll get a firm and fair offer.
This is a great service for anyone who doesn’t want to go through the hassle of repairing, cleaning, and advertising your home. You don’t have to worry about keeping the house clean for sudden walkthroughs, and you save time and money.
Selling a House By Owner in Chicago
If you want to sell a house by owner, it takes some time, money, and elbow grease. You’ll save money on real estate agent fees but you’ll have to do a lot of work yourself.
Don’t want to go through the hassle of selling your house by owner?
Consider selling your house quickly for cash to URB Chicago. We’ll offer a fair, firm price for your home as-is. Contact us today for more information!