San Diego is one of the most populous counties in the country and there is a clear desire of home buyers from everywhere to move to ‘America’s Finest City.’ With 70 long miles of beaches, perfect climate, and endless variety of historical and cultural influences, San Diego is a fantastic place to live. In addition to all its beauty, San Diego has one of the fastest moving housing markets with some homes selling well above asking price. If you are a resident of San Diego who is considering selling their home you have a very good chance of being among previous sellers who have sold their homes in less than a week for a record breaking price. Consider the following tips to sell your San Diego, California home quickly.
Hire a top real estate agent
The fastest way to sell your home is to enlist the help of a top rated San Diego real estate agent. He or she has information about the San Diego housing market that can help speed your home sale process. They also have access to a vast network of agents that may have the perfect buyer for your property. Top real estate agents will choose the best price to list your home, when to list your home, and how to make your home stand out from others. Beyond general listing know-how, real estate agents are pros as marketing homes through social media, email campaigns, and word of mouth. And, when it comes time to finalize the sale of your home, a real estate agent can help you navigate the sometimes complicated process of negotiations, signing documents, and finalizing paperwork. A top real estate agent can also give valuable suggestions for how to prepare your home to sell quickly. A few of these suggestions may include:
Upping your curb appeal
You may be tempted to stick to fixing up the interior of your home when you are getting ready to sell; however, the exterior is just as important as the interior. In fact top real estate agents agree that a well-landscaped home is worth 1%-5% more than a home with no landscaping. Dress up the exterior of your home with lots of greenery and beautiful additions of color. Do a quick clean up and decluttering of your yard, landscaping, and front porch. Next, trim back overgrown bushes, trees, and shrubs. Finish off your outdoor clean up by power washing the siding and porch. San Diego, California is known for its beautiful scenery, so make the exterior of your home just as beautiful by boosting your curb appeal. Tropical plants such as the Giant Bird of Paradise and Foxtail Agave are perfect for San Diego gardens because they can tolerate quite a bit of sun and high water volumes. Perennial grasses and lilies are also easy to keep alive no matter where you plant them. If you are more interested in a no-fuss exterior try out xeriscaping. This popular no-fuss low water use gardening technique is very popular with home buyers who don’t want to commit any time to keeping plants alive. Finally, take care of your yard. Make sure your grass is mowed, trimmed, and free of weeds.
Deep Clean and Declutter
Homes that are decluttered and deep cleaned sell faster than messy homes and they sell for a higher price. Declutter by removing unnecessary knick-knacks, furniture, and wall art. Remove excess from your countertops and clean out your cabinets so that buyers can clearly see the storage space your home provides. While you are decluttering, take the time to deep clean your home. Scrub baseboards, shelves, walls, and far away corners that have been neglected over the years. Deep cleaning and decluttering won’t just make your home easier to sell, it can boost your home value from 3-5%.
Consider the best time to sell
Every part of the country has a time when the local housing market is at its peak. San Diego is no exception. If you are trying to sell your house as quickly as possible you should list in February. Home owners who listed in February on average sold their house four days sooner than those that listed during other months. If you are more interested in selling for a higher price consider waiting until March when you could sell your house for 3.08% more than the yearly average.
Highlight Updates and Upgrades
The last thing the average buyer wants to do is purchase a home and spend the next several years updating old appliances, flooring, fixtures, and more. If you have taken the time and the money to update your home, show off the work you’ve done. First, make sure new updates are cleaned and free from clutter. Next, have professional photographs taken that accentuate the updated areas. Finally, put those updates in the listing or open house brochure. Sometimes the best way to show home buyers that your house is well cared for is to come right out and say it. Let everyone know that you updated your bathroom floor, that you installed brand new smart appliances, or that you just installed Energy Star certified windows.
Consider a Cash Buyer
If waiting a few months to complete your home’s sale won’t work, consider requesting a cash offer. Home buying platforms such as HomeLight’s Simple Sale are easy to use and provide an estimated cash offer in just a few days. A cash buyer program requires you answer a few questions about the condition of your home, how much work is needed, and your selling timeline. While the offer may be lower than what you would expect with a traditional sale, it is quick and eliminates the need for repairs, staging, and showing your home.
Whether you choose to sell the traditional route and hire a top San Diego, California real estate agent or use a cash buyer platform, you should be able to sell your San Diego, California home quickly. Explore both options, do a bit of research, and figure out which strategy works best for you.
