As demand for a second “circuit-breaker” lockdown increases and the economy plunges further into recession, homeowners are keen to secure a quick house sale before rising unemployment and the end of the stamp duty holiday diminishes the pool of potential buyers. Our team of property experts has put together some tips on how to sell a house quickly for cash.
Since lockdown restrictions eased in May, the UK has experienced a mini-boom in the housing market. The average asking price of homes has hit a record high, and demand is outstripping supply. According to Rightmove, more properties are marked as sold than are available for sale. However, there are signs of the market slowing down — sales were up 70% year-on-year in September, but only 58% in October. If you’re keen to sell quickly for cash before the year ends, now is the time to act.
How to Sell a House Quickly by Making It More Appealing to Buyers
If you’re selling on the open market, many of the people that ask to view your home will require a mortgage. When a cash buyer does appear, boosting the appeal of your property means that there will be a better chance of them making an offer.
- Make Minor Repairs and Tidy Up
A surprising number of people are put off from making an offer on a property because of seemingly minor “flaws”. An untidy lounge, a scruffy garden, peeling paint and other signs of disrepair can distract a potential buyer from seeing and appreciating a property’s more appealing characteristics. When viewing a house, the buyer needs to be able to imagine themselves living there and feel that the property makes a lovely home — some research suggests that more than half of buyers decide to make an offer on a property “because they fall in love with it”.
Complete basic repairs — dripping taps, peeling paint and broken kitchen cabinets — and make sure the property is spic and span before viewings to increase the chance of a buyer making an offer.
- Tap into New Buyer Trends
When lockdown restrictions were eased in May and house sales were once again permitted, new buyer trends began to emerge. There has been a surge of interest in properties with fast wi-fi, gardens, proximity to green spaces and home offices (or the space for one).
If your home has any of these features or the potential to add them, make the most of this competitive advantage. Tidy up the garden and remove any clutter — such as dustbins or children’s play sets — or landscaping that makes it look smaller than it is. Research wi-fi speeds in your area, and be sure to share this with your estate agent and potential buyers. If you have any “dead space” consider creating a home office — even if the new buyer chooses to use the space differently, this will demonstrate that the house has the potential to facilitate remote working.
If you can offer the most in-demand features, there’s a good chance a cash buyer may come along and snap up your property.
- Swap Statement Decor for Neutral Designs
You may love bold floral wallpaper and bright pink walls, but there’s a good chance the next owner of your home won’t. Wallpapering and painting is a relatively quick, easy and low-budget home improvement that can make all the difference when it comes to a buyer’s decision to offer or move on to the next viewing.
- Make a Video and Offer Virtual Viewings
As social distancing rules remain in place and restrictions on our movements continue to fluctuate, video content and online viewings are likely to play a greater role in the house selling process. If a buyer has to choose between your house and another similar property, they’ll be more inclined to book a viewing if they can see the property in detail beforehand and then conduct a viewing safely online. Failing to adapt your marketing techniques to meet current needs will narrow your pool of potential buyers and delay the sales process.
- Don’t Forget the Finishing Touches
Adding a vase of fresh flowers, lighting a few scented candles and filling the fruit bowl may seem like small things that couldn’t possibly make a difference to a buyer’s perception of your home. But these finishing touches all help to create a homely feel that taps into a buyer’s emotions and will help them to envision themselves living in the property.
Taking these steps can help to increase viewings and to increase the odds of a buyer making an offer. But how do you attract a cash buyer?
How to Land a Cash Buyer
If you choose to sell via the traditional route of advertising your home with an estate agency, holding viewings and waiting for the offers to roll in, finding a cash buyer is a waiting game. You can stipulate that viewings should only be offered to cash buyers, but you will reduce the pool of potential buyers considerably, and this is likely to prolong the sales process.
The only way to get a guaranteed sale with a cash buyer and fast is to sell to a quick house sale company. House Buyer Bureau has the funds ready to buy any type of property in any condition or location in the UK. We will give you a fair price, first-rate service and a guaranteed house sale in as little as seven days (we will work to your preferred time scale).
We pride ourselves on offering a transparent and honest service, but don’t take our word for it, read what our customers are saying about us. What’s more, there are no estate agents’ fees, solicitor’s fees or surveyor’s fees to pay! And you can side-step all the time, cost and hassle of preparing and presenting your property to attract buyers and offers.
