7 Crucial Tips for Selling a House in Poor Condition

Large suburban house with ‘for sale’ sign displayed outside

Selling a house in poor condition can be a challenge — even for experienced real estate agents. Here’s how to sell a house that needs repairs.

Keyword(s): selling a house in poor condition

The national average for how long a home stays on the market is 40 days. The longer it’s on the market, the more likely concessions are made, such as a price drop.

If you’re selling a house in poor condition, you’ll want to make a fast, easy sale. Otherwise, your home’s value could continue to drop.

Here are the seven crucial tips you need when learning how to sell a house that is in poor condition. With these tips, you can set yourself up for success. Don’t stress about selling your home.

Instead, make a plan using these seven tips today!

1. Show Off the Value

Selling a house in poor condition doesn’t mean you have to focus on your home’s poor state. Instead, try focusing on the positives while downplaying the negatives.

What unique value does your home offer? What can home buyers get from your home that they can’t find from another property?

Highlighting the positives will help your listing stand out. Many buyers will decide to overlook the negatives for those positives.

They might even see your home as a cute fixer-upper they want to take on themselves.

Think about your property’s location. Are you close to great venues, amazing schools, or shopping malls? Know what home buyers are looking for and how you can get their attention.

Many buyers want to live in desirable locations. Some are willing to pay for a home that’s in poor condition in exchange for living in the area.

Think about the features your home offers as well. Do you have a swimming pool? Is the kitchen full of shiny, stainless steel appliances?

Focusing on your home’s value will help people see the value. Otherwise, they’ll get stuck on the poorer qualities of your home.

2. Make the Easiest Upgrades

Don’t rush to put your home on the market. If you want to learn how to sell a house that is in poor condition, think ahead.

What changes can you make that might improve the value of your home? Even a few small changes can have a big impact.

For example, is your home water- or fire-damaged? Is the paint faded and chipped? When was the last time you gave your landscaping some love?

Making facelift changes to your home can have a big impact.

Start with curb appeal. You’ll fail to draw people in if your home looks shabby from the outside. Spruce up your lawn, paint your home’s exterior, and add some flowers to the walkway.

Inside, consider re-staining your cabinets or updating your window screens. Remember, every small change adds up.

You could add thousands to your asking price by making these changes.

Otherwise, home buyers will see a thousand different problems and decide to look elsewhere.

3. Remain Honest

Selling a house in poor condition doesn’t mean you have to hide every flaw. While it helps to downplay the negatives, it can actually hurt if you try to hide them.

Many homeowners will ask to schedule a thorough home inspection before they make an offer. If they find out you’re hiding big issues, they’ll think you’re dishonest.

Remember, some home buyers want to update and remodel a home. Let them know what needs fixing. Remaining upfront will encourage buyers to trust you.

In fact, about 36% of homeowners say unexpected repairs are their biggest buying regret. People don’t want to walk into a situation feeling blindsided.

Instead, remain honest about your property’s faults and highlight the value. The buyers will decide which one outweighs the other.

4. Consider Your Pricing

Your asking price can have a big impact when you’re selling a house for cash.

First, take a look at other properties for sale in your area. Look at their asking prices. Reviewing these properties will help you determine the local average.

Buyers will take notice of that average. If you’re putting a fixer-upper on the market for a higher asking price, they’ll turn away.

Instead, use an approachable price. Remember, your location could draw in buyers.

At the same time, make sure you’re not pricing too low. You don’t want to leave money on the table. Working with a professional can help you determine the right asking price for your property.

5. Expect Concessions

Getting fast cash for homes usually means making concessions. Buyers will likely try to negotiate with you, even after they’ve made their initial offer. For example, they might ask you to cover the real estate agents’ commissions.

Before putting your home on the market, consider the concessions you can live with. You’ll feel more comfortable during the negotiation process if you walk in with a plan.

Otherwise, you could walk away without a decent profit.

6. Remain Patient

While it’s normal to want to sell your home quickly, it doesn’t always work that way. Selling a house in poor condition often takes longer than selling a newly remodeled home. It’s important to remain patient throughout this process.

Otherwise, buyers might see your desperation. They could take advantage and ask for a lower price.

Use these tips to develop a plan. First, set a deadline for yourself. When you post your listing, make sure to mention the deadline.

Home buyers will want to see your home before the deadline lapses. Using the Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) can help you draw in potential buyers.

Consider staging your home, too. Make sure to use high-quality, professional photos for the listing.

If your plans don’t work, make a change. For example, you might need to adjust your asking price.

7. Work with a Pro

You don’t have to work through this process alone. Instead, consider asking for help from a professional.

Look for someone who has experience selling homes that are in poor condition. They’ll understand the steps you need to take to draw in buyers. With their help, you can make a fast, easy sale without stress.

Sales Success: 7 Tips for Selling a House in Poor Condition

Selling a house in poor condition doesn’t have to feel like a stressful process. Instead, give these seven tips a try. With this guide, you can make a plan for a quick, easy sale.

Ready to sell your home for fast cash? We’re here to help!