How To Sell A House In A Distressed Neighborhood, Tulsa, OK
- July 21, 2022
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- Local House Guide
- Posted in Tips
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Run-down neighborhoods are known for various issues like poverty, crime, and low-income residents. The positive side is that houses in these areas often have lower prices, making them attractive to buyers. However, if you’ve upgraded your home and need to sell in such neighborhoods, it can be tough. Here are some ways to sell your house for the best value:
1. Sell your house to someone who can pay in cash
Selling to a cash buyer means you don’t have to deal with repairs or the usual process of selling a house. It also saves you time since there’s no lengthy evaluation or financing process. However, keep in mind that the cash buyer will offer a price based on your house’s current condition. If it’s in bad shape, you can expect a lower offer.
If you’re in a hurry, selling to a cash buyer is a good choice. But if you want to explore traditional methods to find the right buyer, read on. The tips below could be helpful when reaching out to potential buyers.
2. Understand what information you have to share about your house
In real estate deals, every state has rules about revealing specific details about a property. If you don’t follow these rules, it’s considered misleading the buyer, and there are penalties. Be sure to know what information you must share.
In Oklahoma, sellers must provide either a “Disclaimer Statement” or a “Disclosure Statement.” The Disclosure Statement needs to list the items and improvements in the property, along with any defects. If the seller hasn’t lived in the property and is unaware of any issues, they submit a Disclaimer Statement.
You must reveal any problems with the house, unless you genuinely don’t know about any. If the buyer discovers an issue after buying, they can sue you for damages. Similarly, if the home inspector finds a problem before the sale, the buyer might lose trust in your house, especially in a struggling neighborhood, and may want a big price reduction.
Mistakes can happen, but it’s important to talk to your buyer and let them know you’re open and transparent.
3. Have a public open house for everyone
An open house brings a lot of people together in one place, allowing you to present your house to a larger audience simultaneously. This puts some pressure on potential buyers, as they know others are also interested and might offer a higher price. To make the most of this situation, prepare your house nicely, highlight its best features and the neighborhood, and eliminate any negative aspects to create a positive first impression.
4. Fix up the house and make it look good for potential buyers
Before hosting an open house, you should fix up and freshen the house. Paint it, tidy up the yard, mend the fence, clean the exterior, and repair any fixtures. This doesn’t involve major renovations or extensive
improvements, as those won’t significantly increase the house’s market value. Focus on cosmetic repairs that make it more appealing.
After fixing it up, the next step is to arrange it for potential buyers. Make it look welcoming and ideal for living. Buyers should be able to picture what the house will be like once they own it. If you’re not familiar with staging, you might want to hire a professional, especially in a struggling neighborhood. Alternatively, if the house needs repairs, you can sell it as it is.
5. Showcase the positive aspects of your neighborhood
You can highlight the best part of your neighborhood by talking about it to prospective buyers. Try to have the surroundings of your property, including any neighbor’s yard, cleaned up. If no one agrees to do it, offer to do it yourself. Highlight the shortest and cleanest routes to your home when guiding buyers. The idea is to project your house in the best possible light before the grimness of the neighborhood can make its impression.
6. Provide price discounts when setting the selling price
The price is a crucial factor for most buyers in deciding whether to proceed with the deal. Assess your neighborhood to identify factors that might impact the price. Watch out for issues like flood-prone areas, inadequate schools, subpar construction quality, or environmental hazards. Depending on these factors, neighborhood prices can vary. Set a competitive price, and consider getting assistance from a broker. Provide discounts to attract buyers, and emphasize any repairs that could affect the price.
7. Consider offering financing as a seller
If your buyer can’t use a regular bank, you can cover the costs on their behalf and have them repay you over time. However, because it’s riskier for you than a bank, you can charge a higher interest rate. To safeguard against any issues, hire a lawyer to create the loan documents. If there’s a default, the house will come back to you.
Tulsa, like any other U.S. city, has its share of struggling neighborhoods. Despite challenges, homes in these areas are generally priced quite low unless there’s substantial community development. Before selling your house, it’s smart to figure out if your neighborhood is in a buyer’s or seller’s market to get the best price.