If you’re looking to bid farewell to your current L.A. home, you’ve got a lot of work ahead of you. After all, it’s a buyer’s market, and you don’t want to sell to just anybody. You want to get top dollar. But if you’re still in the early stages, you’re probably asking the obvious question: What do I need to do to sell my house?
To eliminate the confusion, we’ve laid out this handy guide that you can use as a checklist. Please note, however, that these instructions are intended for those seeking the full retail value of their home. If you don’t have the time or energy for a multi-month listing process and you just want to sell your L.A. home quickly for a fair value, proceed to the last section of this article.
1. Clean Your House From Top to Bottom
Open houses are an integral part of the home listing process, and cleanliness is key. Prospective homeowners need to see the home in its best light. They want to imagine how they themselves would look inside the house after buying it. If the home is dirty, cluttered, or in disrepair, you’ll compromise that critical first impression.
Keep the house neat, tidy, and organized. Consider hiring a professional cleaning company to scrub the house from top to bottom, and then ensure that the house remains in that condition until it’s sold. For some people, this might mean having to vacate the house during the listing period.
2. Upgrade Your Paint Job
Speaking of attracting buyers, nothing will refresh the look of your home faster and more effectively than some new splashes of paint. You want to cultivate a clean, neutral aesthetic that catches the eye without overwhelming the senses.
This doesn’t mean that you need to paint the entire house in off-white shades. Use a variety of warm neutrals to create an inviting presence and contrast against bolder schemes in the various rooms. For best results, contact a professional painting company to provide a consultation and refresh both the interior and exterior of your home. The pros can help you select the colors that will send just the right subconscious message and showcase your home in the best possible light.
3. Repair Those Appliances & Fixtures You’ve Been Neglecting
You’re not required to complete repairs before listing your home, but it can help a lot. The mandatory home inspection will bring to light any potential problems with the house, and these problems are often used as bargaining chips for buyers. If you put off those repairs, you’ll end up paying for it later, and you’ll usually lose money on the deal. And of course, concealing necessary repairs is a form of fraud and can come with serious consequences.
Many homeowners opt for their home inspection before the house even hits the market. If you do this, you’ll have a complete idea of what needs to be repaired. Often, the inspector will come back for a small fee and provide you with a clean bill of health after you complete the repairs. Having this type of independent report can increase buyer confidence and put you in a better position to negotiate.
4. Focus Just on the Essential Improvements
A new paint job and essential repairs should do the trick. Beyond that, you’re just throwing away money that would be better invested in your new home. Don’t spend $500 on a new security door for the front entrance just because you think it will improve the home’s appeal. The buyer might not even want it. Now’s not the time to shop for vinyl fences to improve your curb appeal. Just stick to the essentials.
5. Research the Market
Is now the time to sell? Before reaching out to an agent, you want to do some basic research to determine if it’s an opportune time to list your home. Real estate has tremendous seasonality. The market is hot during the summer but tends to be dead around the winter holidays. Look at recent real estate trend reports to determine if now is the ideal time to list. If this is a bad time but you’re still eager to move, consider selling your home to a reputable real estate investor (see the final section below for more information).
6. Speak With Multiple Realtors
A knowledgeable real estate agent or broker can help you to price your home, devise a marketing strategy, list your home on the industry MLS, and guide you through the listing process. They handle the buyer interactions, the open houses, and the legal requirements. But it’s important to speak with multiple agents and be completely transparent about your home and its condition. If you decide to go with an agent, choose an experienced, knowledgeable professional who understands your goals and is equipped to help you get the maximum return.
The Simpler Option – Selling to a Real Estate Investor
If the process of selling a home sounds overwhelming, or if you’re not in a place financially where you can make costly repairs and upgrades, there is an easier way. More and more homeowners are skipping the traditional listing process entirely and selling to a real estate investor.
Real estate investors buy houses for cash so that they can flip them or use them as rental properties. It’s a mutually beneficial transaction: you’re able to get a cash offer on your house in as little as 7 days, and the investor is able to turn a profit. You don’t have to fix anything, upgrade anything, or market your home. In most cases, the investor even takes care of the closing costs.
Get Fair Home Offers is L.A.’s leading real estate investment provider. We’ll buy any house, regardless of the condition, and we’ll give you a fair value based on the estimated “ARV” (After Repair Value). And unlike with a traditional retailer, you don’t have to pay any commissions or closing fees.
If you’d like to get started, just contact us. We’ll ask you for some basic info about your home, and then we’ll provide you with an evaluation and make an offer. If you’re happy with the offer, we can close in as little as 7 days. There’s no pressure and no obligation.
So if you’re still asking “what do I need to do to sell my house in Los Angeles?”, you now have two solid options. You can:
Repair and upgrade the home and prepare to sell it with a Realtor.
Or…
Give us a call and let us make you a cash offer. We buy houses as-is, and we don’t make you wait.
We buy houses in Los Angeles and throughout Southern California, and our services are ideal for anyone who wants to sell fast and still get an excellent rate.
We’d like to make you a fair offer on your Los Angeles house. Give us a call anytime at (626) 817-3351 or fill out the form on this website today!