Do you need to sell your house fast in Carrollton, TX?
Life happens fast sometimes, and you can be forced to make big decisions quickly.
When that includes selling your house, you’ll want to avoid making errors now that can cost you a lot of money later.
Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your House
When you need to sell fast, it’s easy to overlook important details in the rush to find a buyer.
Here are some of the most common mistakes home sellers make when taking their property to market:
The Price is Wrong
Maybe you’ve seen news reports saying the real estate market is on fire. Perhaps you looked up prices of other homes for sale in your neighborhood and you thought, “My house is worth at least that much!”
But even in a hot seller’s market, pricing too high can limit your options.
First, you may miss out on qualified buyers. Buyers may not be able to get financing if the purchase price is much higher than an appraisal.
In addition, an overpriced house can end up staying on the market longer. That can lead other prospective buyers to ask what’s wrong with the property: “If it’s worth that much, why hasn’t it sold already?”
Timing is Everything
The time of year you take your house to market is an important factor in generating offers.
Winter is typically the slowest time of year for home sales, especially around the holidays. Most families don’t want to deal with the hassle of moving right before Thanksgiving, just after Christmas, or at any time in between.
Underestimating the Costs of Selling
When you put your house up for sale in the traditional manner, you may quickly learn that the act of selling itself can be quite costly.
First, there’s hiring a real estate agent. While most agents do not require any payment up front, the broker you hire will get a cut from the final sale price – as much as 6 percent. So, if your house sells for $250,000, you can plan to immediately take around $8,000 to $15,000 off the top.
There are also closing costs, which are typically negotiated. Sometimes, the seller will end up picking up half or even all closing costs, further eroding their final proceeds.
Don’t forget about “invisible” costs – the essential matters you’ll be paying for out of pocket no matter what. These include the cost of moving yourself and your family to your new home; storage fees if you need extra space after the move; and other “carrying costs”. Those are items like HOA dues, taxes, and utilities you’re still responsible for until the sale is complete.
Sell Your Carrolton House in 3 Easy Steps
Once you’ve decided to sell, there are three basic steps you can take to get it out the door. Keep in mind, the amount of time and money it takes to sell will vary greatly, depending on your circumstances.
- Get the House in Showing Shape. This is perhaps the most-important step: ensure that everything is clean, from top to bottom. Landscape the front yard; power-wash the walls and driveway; clean up clutter; and thoroughly clean and disinfect every surface, from kitchen counters to toilets. Have your carpet and hard floors professionally cleaned as well, or rent a floor cleaning machine and do it yourself.
- Decide Your Sales Method. For many sellers, this path will lead to hiring a real estate agent, and letting them take care of marketing. Or, you can choose to do it yourself. Either way, you’ll want to consider when and how to list; make sure to get lots of great photos; and advertise the listing to attract buyers.
- Solicit Offers and Choose the Best One. If everything goes smoothly in steps 1 and 2, the bids will start rolling in. Now comes the hard part: selecting the winner. You won’t always want the highest offer; it may come with contingencies, like the buyer selling their current house first.
How to Get Max Value for Your Carrollton Home
Naturally, you’ll want to get as much money as possible when you sell your house.
Thinking about a few ways to approach your sale can make a big difference!
Try Minor, Low-Cost Renovations
This is improvements we’re talking about, not repairs.
For as little as a few hundred dollars, you can make quick renovations that add to your home’s appeal – and that could entice a buyer.
Depending on how handy you are, look for opportunities around the house to renovate with materials you can find at your local hardware store. Check out online videos to make sure you have the tools and the knowhow.
A few simple projects to consider:
- Add a fresh coat of paint to interior walls
- Add easy-fit decorative crown molding
- Refinish or paint kitchen cabinets
- Replace the kitchen sink and faucet
- Replace worn-out laundry room or bathroom floors with new vinyl tile
- Install or replace ceiling fans in bedrooms and living areas
Ask for Feedback and Criticism
Odds are you know someone who already owns a house, or who is thinking about buying one. Their advice can be valuable!
Seek out friends and family and ask them to view your house and marketing material with a critical eye. Would they want to buy your house? If so, how much would they offer? Why would they buy, or not buy, at your asking price?
Learning from their suggestions can help you improve your listing and add that much more appeal.
Negotiate the Best Offer
This is a big reason many sellers hire an agent: they aren’t comfortable with the art of negotiation. Good brokers usually take care of that for you.
If you’re selling without an agent, you’ll need to be prepared to come to the bargaining table. Unless you’re selling in a red-hot market, most buyers won’t be lining up to pay you what you’re asking, or engaging in a bidding war to your benefit.
Negotiating isn’t just about nailing down the highest possible price. It includes adjustments based on things like buyer contingencies, inspections, repair credits, and other factors.
3 Questions to Ask Before Selling Your Carrollton, TX House
Now that we’ve reviewed some common errors and how to avoid them, let’s consider this: do you know everything you need to know before you put your Carrollton house on the market?
Here are three questions you should consider asking and answering first.
1. How Long Will it Take to Sell My Carrollton, Texas House?
This can be tough to answer, because so many factors are involved.
First, what are the market conditions like in the Dallas area? Are homes selling hot and fast, or are they spending months on the listing service?
Once you’ve done some research and better understand the market, consider the age, condition, and location of your home. The more desirable it is to prospective buyers, the faster it will sell.
Finally, consider how much time you can afford to take. If you’re not in a hurry to relocate, you can take a more measured approach and spend some time sprucing things up before you land the perfect buyer.
On the other hand, if you need to sell your Carrollton, Texas house fast, it might make sense to sell to a cash investor, like Local Cash Buyers.
2. How Much is My House Worth?
You’ll find answers to this question as you ponder the first.
Location, as it’s often said, is the primary driver of real estate value. But there are many other elements at play.
How old is your house? Is it in good shape, or does it need some work? If it’s older, has it been updated? Does it have a swimming pool, a two-car garage, a fenced backyard? How is the school district rated? Is it on a busy street, or on a quiet cul-de-sac?
Finally, remember to look up the final sale prices of comparable homes, or “comps.” Those are any houses, condos, duplexes, or other real estate in your part of Carrollton that have sold recently, and with similar floorplans and features.
3. Should I Make Repairs Before I Sell My House?
Again, there’s no one-size-fits-all answer here.
Some repairs may require immediate attention, even if you’ve been putting it off. Just because you’re willing to grind out another summer without a working air conditioner doesn’t mean a buyer will feel the same way.
Other repairs may not do much to improve the appeal or sale price of the house. It all depends on the severity and amount of damage or disrepair involved.
Sell Your Carrollton, TX House Fast
You don’t have to spend a dime on repairs – you can sell your Carrollton home as-is and get a cash offer within 24 hours.
Some of the most common reasons sellers need cash fast include:
- Probate Inherited Property: If a loved one leaves behind a property you’d like to sell fast, we can help, even if they didn’t have a will.
- Foreclosure: If you’re behind on your payments, we can buy your house, take over the payments and leave the note in your name.
- Divorce: The house is one of the biggest assets to be dealt with in a separation. We can buy quickly, giving you one less headache.
What if your house needs foundation repair or other maintenance? We can still take it off your hands in a hurry.
Even if you’re upside-down in your mortgage, we can still buy your Carrollton house with our “Subject To” program. We are ready to close as quickly as paperwork is prepared, in as little as 7 days.
We’ve bought hundreds of houses in the Dallas / Fort Worth area, and many of them in Carrollton. We buy condos, duplexes, apartments, and townhouses, in addition to single-family homes.
If you’re ready to sell your house fast in Carrollton, TX, call 214-390-2882 or request a FREE, zero-obligation offer below. We would love the opportunity to help you sell your Carrollton, TX house fast!
Carrollton, TX Real Estate Market at a Glance
Recent data show houses in Carrollton are staying on the market for about 31 days. Your home could take longer or sell more quickly, depending on many factors.
The median sale price of Carrollton houses is $310,000.
We buy houses in these Carrollton ZIP codes: 75006, 75007, 75010, 75011