Different methods and tips on how to sell a house in Atlanta
How to sell a house in Atlanta: Do the math first
When you are considering the sale of your Atlanta house, before anything else, it’s helpful to get a rough estimate of the financial aspects of the sale. How much of an outstanding mortgage do you have? How much will it cost to sell the house? Preparing a house for sale often includes doing updates, painting, and making repairs.
Do an online search of what comparable houses in your immediate neighborhood are selling for. You may want to consult with a real estate agent for help. All of this will give you a realistic estimate of what you can expect to sell your house for.
How to sell your house in Atlanta with the method that suits you best
There are a few routes to choose from when selling a house. Each has its advantages and disadvantages.
-
Selling FSBO (for sale by owner) allows you to avoid paying a 6% real estate agent commission. However, if you choose this route, you will have to educate yourself on everything related to house-selling, including marketing and advertising, pricing, the local real estate market, and all the legal aspects of selling a house.
-
iBuyers use formulas and algorithms to come up with an offer on your house. They often don’t visit the house but instead do the calculations from their office. It offers speed, but you may get a lower offer than selling the traditional way.
-
Real estate agents provide experience, negotiation skills, and marketing, but come with the expense of commissions.
-
There are companies that buy houses for cash in Atlanta, and they are able to provide a quick sale, but sellers must be cautious and research the companies in order to avoid any scams.
How to prepare your house for sale via a real estate agent or FSBO in Atlanta
If you are selling FSBO or via a real estate agent, you’ll probably have to do some work to make your house competitive on the Atlanta market.
-
Declutter and depersonalize your house. Remove personal items from your house, such as knick knacks, family photos, and toys. Store away kitchen utensils that are usually on countertops. Tidy and remove items from stuffed and overcrowded closets, cabinets, and pantries to give the appearance of plenty of storage space. The point of decluttering is to give potential buyers a “clean slate” so that they can imagine themselves living there.
-
Freshen up your curb appeal by weeding, mowing, planting flowers near the entrance, clipping hedges and removing any clutter from the entrance and yard.
-
Do a deep clean of the house. Steam and clean carpets, remove old window treatments, and polish appliances and floors. Focus a lot of attention on the kitchen and bathrooms.
-
Apply a fresh coat of paint on walls and trim. Install new switch plates and outlet covers to replace old, dingy ones.
-
Make any needed repairs.
How to sell a house to an iBuyer in Atlanta
Selling to an iBuyer is relatively simple, straightforward, and mostly online.
-
Fill out an online form about the condition of your house, what features it has, and any updates.
-
The iBuyer will then plug your information into their systems and use the data to determine an offer.
-
If you are happy with the offer, you can accept it. If not, decline the offer.
-
If you accept their offer, the iBuyer will send an inspector out. If the inspector finds everything as expected, the closing will be fast. However, if they find repairs that they weren’t aware of, they will most likely change their offer to offset the cost of making the repairs themselves.
How to sell your house with a real estate agent in Atlanta
-
Ask friends, relatives, and coworkers to recommend a good real estate agent, then check the agent’s reviews. Choose several to interview and ask for references.
-
Stage your Atlanta house to show it off at its best. The average amount it costs to stage a house in Fulton County is $546, but that varies by size and some other factors.
-
Have your house photographed for marketing purposes. This step is very important, so be certain to hire an experienced photographer who has the right equipment. Your real estate agent can recommend several.
-
Keep your house clean and neat for last-minute showings.
-
Along with your real estate agent, negotiate with prospective buyers.
-
Your real estate agent will guide you through the closing process.
If you are selling FSBO, perform the above steps yourself. The most difficult steps will likely be negotiating, closing, and having the necessary paperwork in order.
How to sell a house in Atlanta that needs repairs
Selling a house that needs repairs is a common dilemma. A house that needs repairs is more difficult to sell the traditional way via a real estate agent or FSBO. It’s possible to get lucky and find a buyer who is willing to pay less for a house and do the work themselves, but the pool of potential buyers is typically smaller, and most buyers want to purchase a house that doesn’t need repairs and updates.
There’s an easy solution to this problem, though, and that is to sell your house “as is” to We Buy Ugly Houses® in Atlanta. We buy houses for cash, close fast, charge no commissions, have no hidden fees, and pay typical closing costs. We have a streamlined process that makes the sale smooth and hassle-free.
Contact us for a free, no-obligation consultation at your house. Our friendly, local Atlanta property specialist will look at your house while answering your questions. Frequently, we can give you a fair cash offer the same day. If you accept our offer, we can often close in as little as 3 weeks!
We Buy Ugly Houses has bought over 140,000 houses since 1996. We have a 95%* customer satisfaction rating and excellent reviews. If you are considering selling a house that needs repairs, contact us to learn more.
