Make sure you do these things before selling your house in Chicago IL.

It is no secret that selling a house in Chicago can be one of the biggest transactions you ever undertake.

However, before you start marketing your house and bringing potential buyers into it…there are a few things we recommend. Over the years we’ve learned ways to spruce up your home (the simple way!) in order to increase your chances of selling your house faster, and for a better price.

Sell Your Chicago House Faster By Doing These FIRST

De-Clutter and Take Down Family Memorabilia

We know. You’ve spent a lot of time and energy making your house YOUR own. Most buyers, however, don’t want to see too many personal things around the house because it’s difficult for them to envision living somewhere that isn’t ‘theirs’. Spend a little time removing family photos, clearing the outside of your fridge (you know, those cute drawings little Johnny made for you in Kindergarten), and removing other visible family memorabilia that adorns your walls and shelves. At first, this may feel very weird. But remember, your goal is to help buyers feel welcome and inspired as they walk through their new potential living space. And presenting a sort of ‘blank slate’ is one great way to accomplish that.

Price it Right

Question: How much is your home worth? Answer: However much someone is willing to pay for it. 😉 That can be good and bad. Depending on the type of market we’re in. Bottom line: You have established an emotional connection to your home, and understandably so. So you’ll (most likely, I’m guessing) want to fetch the biggest and bestest price possible. To price your home at a fair market value, however, it will make more sense to use industry standards and true comparables. That is, how much similar homes in similar condition in vicinities close to you have sold for within the last 6 months to 1 year.

Keep in mind–many people may be looking for homes, but they are also much smarter today and more informed. Potential homeowners LOVE researching on websites like Zillow  and Redfin. Unfortunately, sites like these put a value on houses withOUT always considering factors like:

• When were the mechanicals last updated?
• How old is the roof?
• Has the kitchen seen a new appliance since the house was built in the 1950’s (or 1920’s)?

This means the actual value of your house could be higher, or lower, by a little or a LOT. NOTE: If you’re looking for an accurate value to your Chicago property, we can help. We buy houses in Chicago so we know the market very well and would love to give you a no-obligation offer on your house. We’ll also provide a very accurate Valuation so you know what other buyers in the market may pay if you decide to list with a real estate agent on the MLS. Give us a call or text at: 312-857-8572 or submit your property information to us through the form through this link here. 

Make the Property More Enticing

Technically, once you have the house marketed, in many cases, it can attract attention right away. As a matter of fact, studies have shown that over 70 percent of the potentials buyers will see the home within 3 to 6 months after its listing. In current market conditions, your home will most likely be seen waaaaay sooner than that. However, if you’re not getting the attention you want for your house… there are some things you can do to make your house look better to potential buyers.

Things like… 

• Take care of small things in your yard. Ideally you can ensure the shrubs and the yard are neatly done and trimmed. Maybe even go extra mile and replace the existing flowers with new and fresh ones.
• Do repairs or repaint your house if it’s looking battered and bruised. Curb appeal–that first impression when someone walks up to your house–is more important than you may think.
• If you have great furniture…think about including some of the furniture in the sale if the buyer wants it.

The thing about most “retail” buyers out there… is the majority of them have a hard time looking past the ugly parts of a house. Yes, they can repaint it after they buy. Or they can redo the yard. But a first impression is a lasting impression. And some buyers just can’t get past that initial ugly visual.

Have an Inspection Carried Out

To avoid being surprised with some property problems that must be sorted before the deal is closed, make sure you have an inspection done and the key reports prepared well in advance. This should be done long before the buyers start to show up. Ensure every single issue is dealt with. The best part? The more your house is problem free, the more it is going to sell within the shortest time possible.

If you need a referral to a great local Chicago Home Inspection Service, shoot us an email or give us a call at 312-857-8572, and we’d be happy to give you some names of reputable inspectors who can help you out.

Get All the Paperwork

Although this step is often ignored, it is surprisingly important. After all, every buyer will actually want to know everything about the house before he or she takes the reins. Who normally does the maintenance and after how long, when were the important systems like the HVAC last maintained, etc. are some of things that the buyer will want to see.

Selling A House In The Local Chicago Real Estate Market Can Be…

… challenging if you don’t have your ducks in a row.

If you’re having a hard time selling your house as quickly as you want… consider doing some of the things we laid out in this article to make your house more attractive to potential buyers.

Also, if you need to sell your Chicago house fast and are having a tough time doing so… connect with us.

We buy local houses.  We can pay cash for your house, pay you a fair price we both agree on, and get you out of your current house in as little as 14 days, rather than having to wait months and months to sell your house the traditional way.