Sometimes life seems so unfair. You lost a loved one, and you are still grieving, but your loved one, loved you enough to leave you something very special to them…Their house. Unfortunately, life does not slow down, so you have to make some major decisions pretty quickly.
If you have recently inherited a house that you don’t plan on living in, you might be wondering what to do with it. One option is to sell your inherited house fast, which can be a great way to get cash quickly and move on with your life. But how do you go about selling your inherited house fast, and what can you do to get the best offer?
Here are five proven strategies to help you sell your inherited house fast and get the best offer:
Get out your sweats and get to work:
Clean and declutter the house. This may seem like a no-brainer, but you’d be surprised at how much of a difference a clean and decluttered house can make. Potential buyers will be able to envision themselves living in the space more easily, and it will be more attractive to them. So, take the time to tidy up the house and remove any personal items or unnecessary clutter.
Fix that broken toilet:
If you can afford it, make the necessary repairs and updates. If the house that you inherited needs any repairs or updates, it’s a good idea to take care of them before trying to list it. This can include things like fixing any leaky faucets, painting the walls, or updating the kitchen or bathroom. Making these changes can not only help the house sell faster, but it can also increase the price you can get for it.
Show me the money:
Price it right. If you want to sell your inherited house fast, it’s important to price it appropriately. This means doing some research to find out what similar houses in the area are selling for and coming up with a fair asking price. You can always check Zillow.com or Redfin.com for a rough estimate. If you price your inherited house too high, it might sit on the market for a long time, which is not what you want. You also want to consider the house’s condition. ( Lime green bathroom tiles with white turtles may have been a thing in the 70s, but for today’s buyer, do you think that would work? )
Talk to the Pros:
Get professional help. While it’s certainly possible to sell an inherited house on your own, it can be helpful to get some professional help. This can include working with a company that buys houses fast for cash or listing the house with a real estate agent. A real estate agent can usually help you handle all of the actual details of the sale, but it may sit on the market for a while incurring costs along the way such as electricity, insurance, code violations, etc., in addition to their 6% commission, while a cash home buyer can often close the sale faster and take care of any necessary repairs themselves.
Talk it over with your family:
Carefully consider all your options before deciding to sell your inherited house fast. You might find that it makes more sense to rent the house out or even keep it as a vacation home. It’s worth taking the time to weigh the pros and cons of each option and decide what’s best for you and your family.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss your inherited property, please give us a call at 718-503-2233 and ask for Keith