Does Your Home Need To Be In Perfect Condition To Sell

The average buyer will visit as many properties as possible before making a final purchasing decision. Therefore, if you are planning on putting your house on the market, you need to ensure that it stands out and appeals to most buyers.

In general, two factors will have the biggest influence on whether a buyer makes an offer on your property: how it looks and is priced compared to other similar properties. 

However, this doesn't mean that your property should be in perfect condition and expertly staged or that you should set the lowest price possible. The point here is to hit the ideal balance for your home and your goals. You should note that making your home look better than your competition also means having a better online presence than theirs, despite its condition. 

It will depend on factors like:

• The condition of your home
• Your goals are quick sales, selling for the highest price, putting in the least amount of work, etc. 
• Your target market
• Note that different buyers will have different needs for what they want in a house. If you are eager to sell your house quickly, we buy any home, in any condition.

1. Move-in ready

Many buyers will be actively seeking a home that they can quickly move into without putting in much or even any work. Applying a fresh coat of paint might be the maximum amount of work they are willing or able to do. If your property is in excellent condition, these may be your target buyers. If so, your next step should be to ensure that it is properly staged. Staging is a crucial part of the house-selling process. It helps to present your property in the best light and allows potential buyers to visualize themselves living in the property. This is hard to achieve in a space or a cluttered one. While staged properties generally sell for a higher price, you need to ensure that they look better and are priced better than comparable houses to market faster. 

2. Cosmetic updates needed

This group of buyers is looking for a property in good structural condition but requires some aesthetic updates. These buyers are most likely planning to live in the property and do the updates themselves, perhaps to build equity, save money, or make the space their own. When selling this type of property, make sure to clean it, remove clutter, and make mandatory repairs. Equally important, you need to set a lower price than other similar properties that are move-in ready. 

When buying the townhome that we currently live in, it was in dire need of updating. However, since the area and setting were perfect for us and the price was reasonably low, we didn't have much trouble renovating the entire property. The fact that the property wasn't 'move-in ready' was exciting for us since we could re-design the space exactly as we wanted. In Utah, I've realized that, if I wanted to sell my house in Salt Lake City, I would need to make the place more appealing to buyers by doing some cosmetic updates. This helps them imagine themselves living in the space and also creates a sense of urgency to buy before someone else does. In this case, setting a lower price is key to attracting potential buyers and making a quick sale.

3. AS-IS condition

Here, I am not talking about houses that sell in 'AS-IS' condition due to an unavailable owner. Instead, I am referring to homes that need work to get them in good condition. This includes mechanical issues, cosmetic issues, structural issues, city inspection issues, and removing items and debris left behind. The past few years have seen a spike in the number of foreclosures and short sales, and in the process, the number of such properties on the market has drastically increased. Many sellers have discovered that the secret to selling these properties is setting the lowest price possible. Set a low enough price to attract as many offers as possible. But also note that even in this category, your house will sell the quickest if it looks better than other properties. 

The key takeaways here are that the house should look better and be priced better. Before setting a price for your home, first determine who your target buyers are and what your priorities are. 

In Utah, I've realized that, if I wanted to sell my house in Salt Lake City, I would need to make the place more appealing to buyers by doing some cosmetic updates. This helps them imagine themselves living in the space and also creates a sense of urgency to buy before someone else does. In this case, setting a lower price is key to attracting potential buyers and making a quick sale. If you're considering selling your property in its current condition, you might explore options to sell your house as-is to these investors, who specialize in purchasing homes without the need for repairs or renovations.

Related Articles:

• The Benefits of Selling Your Home to a Cash Buyer
• Collingwood Real Estate Market: A Comprehensive Guide for Buyers and Sellers