Steps for Home Sellers to Sell a House BEFORE It Is Listed
All home sellers want a successful home sale. They would like to see great offers and the home to be sold quickly.
One way to achieve this is to sell the home before it hits the market. Now, this does not mean listing it early. There are actually ways for home sellers to gain buyer interest BEFORE the house is listed so they will be clamoring for a chance to make an offer once it is on the market.
The benefit for advertising early is having eager buyers right out of the gate. Believe it or not, it can be difficult to gain buyers’ interest. By capturing it early there is more change that the house will sell fast and for a price the home sellers are happy with.
Many buyers want what they cannot have. A house that looks spectacular but is not listed is going to be a sought-after property.
Let People Know
Home sellers will want to start by letting people know the house is going to be listed soon. Start this no sooner than three weeks before the listing date. A house that has been posted on an MLS site but is not up for sale should be label as “coming soon.” This is going to catch the eye of buyers who are not having any luck with houses that are currently for sale.
Stepping away from the internet, home sellers can put a sign in their yard. People look for sale signs in their neighborhoods when searching for properties. They will spot a “coming soon” sign and grow excited about another house being put up for sale.
Many buyers are over-eager when they see a “coming soon” sign. They want to see the house now. Often they think they will get a better deal by making an offer before the house has been listed. In fact, many home sellers, have buyers knocking on their doors asking for a peek inside.
Offer Lender Advice
Home sellers should consider talking to a lender about their house that is for sale. Some lenders will advertise a home either on the website or even in the office. This is beneficial because buyers will come through looking to get pre-approved for a loan and possibly find a house at the same time.
Most home buyers know they need to get a pre-approval. It makes the entire process easier if the buyer makes an offer that is backed by a lender with this letter. The pre-approval will let them know exactly how much they can afford and what offers are reasonable.
The best part about advertising through a lender is that there is no fee. No one is obligated to use the lender for their loan but they will still let people know that the property is for sale. Some lenders will draw up tentative rates and information about monthly payments on a house. This is a great tool to give to buyers once open houses start so they know what to expect when making an offer.
Word of Mouth
While some friends may get tired of hearing about the house, home sellers should tell as many people as possible that it will be going up for sale. Word of mouth advertising is free and can get to a lot of people without much effort. So many times a family member or friend knows someone looking for a house and can make the connection to complete the sale.
Telling people on social media is also an easy way to show a lot of people the property all at once. Choose select pictures that make the home look very appealing and post them with a small blurb. Talk about selling the home and when it will be put on the market. It is free advertising and can be shared multiple times.
A Pre-Showing
A house cannot have an open house until it is listed, but a homeowner can hold a pre-showing. This is basically an open house with the understanding that no offers will be accepted until the house is listed. It allows interested buyers to walk through and view the home before it is officially up for sale. Buyers who have been waiting to see the home will jump at the chance for a peek inside.
There is no foolproof way to sell a home. However, the best way is to get a head start. Start telling people as soon as possible that the home will be going up for sale. Put a sign in the yard and even hold a pre-showing. Anything to get a little buzz going about the house before actually listing it. After all this work the house will be in a position to fly off the market the day it is listed!