How to Sell a Fixer-Upper House Fast

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The process of selling a house can be stressful under the best of circumstances. But when you have a property that is a little rough around the edges — and you need to unload it fast — you might be feeling especially anxious. If you want to know how to sell a fixer-upper house fast without needing to invest a lot of time and money, but you still want to get a fair offer, expert guidance is more important than ever.

“We’ve learned that in order to sell a fix-and-flip property fast, the key is to find the balance between doing too much — spending excessive money or time that we won’t get a return on — and still making the house attractive enough in order to sell fast,” says Richard Latimer, a seasoned home buyer.

Here are 10 expert tips that will help you put your home’s best foot forward — and get you on your way to a fast, fair closing.

Partner With a Top Agent to Sell Your Fixer-Upper House

No matter what condition your home is in, having a top agent on your side can help sell your house fast and for more money. It takes just two minutes to match clients with the best real estate agents in your area. To connect with an agent, simply tell us a little bit about your property and how soon you’re looking to sell.

1. Create a clean canvas

According to Eva Cedillo, an agent in San Joaquin County, California, a deep clean is by far the most important step in fast-tracking a fixer-upper sale. After all, nobody wants to walk into their future home and be greeted by clutter and grime. “Ninety percent of the time, the buyer is going to do a full rehab anyway, so they’re just looking for a clean slate.”

When going after the grime, focus on these key areas:

• Get rid of clutter: Go through every room in the house (including the attic, basement, and garage) and purge all unwanted items. Trash should be thrown away while anything that’s in good, usable condition can be donated or sold.
• Depersonalize: Remove wall decorations and family photos.
• Follow the top to bottom, left to right rule: Start at the top by tackling corner cobwebs, and work your way down.
• Wash the windows: Clean the inside and outside of each with a streak-free cleaner.
• Attack mold: Use bleach or a specialized bathroom cleaner to remove mold and mildew.
• Shampoo carpets: Rent a carpet shampooer to clean them up as much as possible.

2. Knock out the low-hanging repairs

There are still some easy, inexpensive repairs you can make prior to putting your house on the market. Here are some key areas to look at:

• Freshen up the walls with a fresh coat of paint.
• Install higher-wattage light bulbs to brighten up each room.
• Swap outdated switch plates and outlet covers.
• Replace old or leaky faucets in the kitchen and bathroom.
• Remove damaged shades and blinds.
• Patch active roof leaks and then prime and paint any visible water damage.

3. Disclose any potential ‘deal-killers’

Order a pre-listing home inspection to be aware of any issues that might arise during the buyer's inspection.

4. Boost the home’s curb appeal

Here are a few easy and inexpensive ways to improve your home’s curb appeal:

• Clean up the yard to remove any debris, old toys, or trash.
• Trim trees and shrubs.
• Plant flowers around the home’s entrance for a welcoming pop of color.

5. Partner with a fixer-upper-friendly real estate agent

An experienced real estate agent is better equipped to help calculate how much the required repairs will cost and will know how to target a network of investors looking for properties to renovate.

6. Set a fair and realistic price

Consider the estimated cost of repairs the new owners will need to put into the house and factor that into the sales price.

A pre-listing inspection

Ordering a pre-listing inspection can provide insight into necessary repairs and help determine the right selling price.

7. Play up the home’s potential in the listing

Highlight features that investors are looking for such as potential resale value after repair and any competitive differentiators.

8. Consider a ‘wholetailing’ strategy

This strategy involves making major repairs while leaving some parts of the house untouched, attracting both investors and buyers looking for a renovation project.

9. Prioritize cash buyers

Cash sales are often wrapped up in as little as two weeks without any inspection or appraisal contingencies, making them an attractive option.

10. Educate buyers on renovation loans

Include information on renovation loans in your home’s listing to ensure prospective buyers know that it’s an option.

Bottom line: You have options to sell a fixer-upper house fast

When you have a fixer-upper house that you want to sell fast, consider the improvements to make, the right price, and the potential buyer pool. Partnering with an experienced real estate agent can streamline the process.