Selling a Fixer Upper: Tips and Techniques

If you have considered fixing up and selling property with the intent to sell instead of renting, then here are some invaluable tips that should fall on any ear hoping to make positive income on all properties they plan to sell.

1. The First Impression

Those that shop around for homes will give you about fifteen minutes for you to impress them. If you aren't able to bring a twinkle in their eyes during this period then you may have lost the fight.

You then should be able to make the best presentation a fifteen minute talk can give. Rehearse all the good things you know about the home. Enumerate first all pertinent information they may want to know about the home and the neighborhood.

Among the most important things to enumerate are the availabilities of the various basic utilities and amenities available in a home. Water supply and engineering, gas lines, structural design all have a place in your presentation.

Also help them experience how wonderful living in such a place would be. Walk them through a day where the house meets all their needs. You could also tell them about the neighborhood and advantages of the place.

If the area is near schools, malls, hospitals, and institutions, let them know. This is one of the most important considerations home seekers look for in a home. They don't want to be stuck with a pretty home that is so far out in the plains that travel becomes an inconvenience.

If travel will become a burden to them, then coming home will prove to be a bigger one too.

You should also be ready for pretty much any question a home owner can throw at you. Make sure you do your research and learn as much as possible about the house and its structure. This will give you leverage when taking about the home you are trying to sell.

Also it wouldn’t hurt if you treated the home as your own. You should carry the demeanor of one that is sorry to have to part with such a great property.

2. Choosing an Agent

For a fixer upper, choosing a good agent may prove to be one of the hardest and most exasperating tasks at hand. However tiring it may be, it is still necessary. Remember that a good real estate agent can make the property business smoother for you, especially if you are new to the field.

When looking for a real estate agent, ask them and yourself the following questions. How long have they been in this line of work and how many sales have they been able to generate per year. This is a good gauge of a real estate agent’s skill and aptitude.

Also, ask the agent any question you can think of regarding your fixer upper property. If they can answer adeptly and without batting an eyelash, then they have above average communication skills and knowledge of the field.

Communication skills are very important in a real estate agent. You should be able to trust your agent with your work without having to worry if you are both on the same page. Good communicators are also better sales facilitators and can make your job a lot easier – not to mention more profitable.

Also take a peek into their sales plans and the method they use to lure in sales. This will at least placate you with the thought that they know what they are doing.

3. Make the Fix Up Worth It

With a good agent and a good pitch talk, you will then have at least good property to show. You, by now, must have purchased a home with is only in need of cosmetic and external repair. If this is so, pour in the effort to make the home worth the money.

A good way to make a rough estimate is to look at other existing homes on the market similar to the one you are selling. Make sure, however, that you are able to make a profit by taking into consideration the house value, fixing fee, insurance, and other expenses you may have incurred while dealing with this house.