Are you among the 40 million Americans looking to move? Or do you simply need to unload an inherited property? In either case, you may have a house on your hands that won’t exactly win awards for its curb appeal.
While selling a shabby or old property might sound impossible, you can do it. Read on to learn the top 7 options for selling ugly homes!
1. Do Minor Renovations First
Pouring lots of money into renovating an ugly home probably won’t provide the return on investment you’re hoping to see. Overhauling your kitchen cabinets, adding granite countertops, or redoing your hardwood floors are all expensive propositions. Instead, focus on minor renovations that can breathe new life into even the homeliest home.
One of the cheapest ways to add value is by painting fresh neutral colors on the walls in your home. Stay away from bold and brash colors that might turn off potential buyers.
Paint tired oak cabinets or wood paneling. And swap out the hardware on cabinets to upgrade your look.
Heading outside, trim your hedges and add some mulch to your flower beds. Use paint to touch up flaking window frames or steps to your deck. For just a few hundred dollars, you can boost the appeal of an ugly house and make it marketable.
2. Spend Time Staging Your Home
If you’re not able to invest money in interior or exterior renovations, do some staging instead. By decluttering your home, you can create the illusion of having more space.
For instance, take side tables and store or sell them. Remove ottomans, kitchen stools, and extra chairs. Throw rugs also can enclose a space, so take stock of decorative accents that might be creating visual clutter.
Similarly, remove excess pictures or decorations from your walls. Minimizing what you have hanging will help open up each room. And by removing personal pictures, you can help potential buyers envision themselves living in your home.
3. Be Honest About Your Home
A home that looks a little shabby will invite some questions from possible buyers. Don’t try to conceal anything. When it comes to selling, honesty really is the best policy!
Your home might have cracks in the foundation or an aging roof. It could have an HVAC system that’s not energy-efficient or a history of basement leaks. Whatever the flaws may be, don’t lie when asked about them.
Besides, if you’ve priced your home competitively, you should have some room to negotiate. A buyer who’s willing to invest in a home with flaws may demand a lower price. And that’s okay as long as you can score the sale!
4. Provide Special Offers
Incentives can be a gamechanger when you’re trying to sell a home. Consider covering closing costs for the buyer as a way to seal the deal. Alternatively, you could offer to pay for some renovations, such as roof repairs.
Throw in the washing machine and dryer for free. Or you could cover the cost of an inspection or HOA dues for the year. Try to hang onto these offers until you need to use them if a buyer is on the fence.
5. Work with Cash Home Buyers
Trying to sell an ugly house may require working with the right audience. And if traditional buyers aren’t showing interest, you do have another option. Cash home buyers will take your property off your hands through a fast and convenient sale.
Do an internet search for We buy ugly homes to find reputable buyers in your area. Cash buyers will work with you to buy your home as-is. This means that you won’t have to fuss with any cosmetic or structural repairs.
A representative will walk through your home to assess it. Then you can expect a strong cash offer in as little as a few days — or even sooner. You won’t be bogged down with what could become months of showings and negotiations if you need to unload your home quickly.
6. Market Your Home Effectively
Social media can be an effective weapon in your effort to win the real estate game. Start by taking good pictures of your home to highlight the best features. Even the ugliest old property will have some selling points.
For instance, you might have a lot of natural light in your kitchen or dining room. Perhaps you can boast a finished basement or oversized backyard. Don’t ignore the rest of your property, but do make an effort to lead with the strongest pictures.
Turn to sites like Facebook or Instagram to promote your property, whether you’re flying solo on the sale or working with an agent. Use Facebook ads and hashtags that target your geographic location to pull in viewers. You even can create a free webpage where you can place photos, information about the house, and contact details.
7. Time Your Listing Based on Market Conditions
If you’re trying to sell an ugly home in the middle of a buyers’ market, you might face an uphill battle. With so many houses on the market in this scenario, buyers can afford to be choosey. And you might lose out to houses that are in better shape at the same price — or have to lower your price to be noticed.
When being flexible on timing is an option, wait out a buyers’ market. Instead, try to time your listing so that it pops up when the options are low. You won’t feel obligated to slash your listing price or invest more in renovations.
Learn How to Sell Ugly Homes
Ugly homes don’t have to stagnate on the market if you know how to strategize. Consider working with cash buyers or timing your listing for optimal selling conditions. You also can provide incentives and focus on staging your home to make it more attractive.
Ready to sell an ugly house? Contact us and we can help!