Sell Your House Faster With These 6 House Flipping Tactics

When you’re ready to sell your home, there’s no reason you can’t sell like a professional. People who flip homes for a living know what makes a difference for a quick sale at a great price. Take advantage of their insight and tips for a better home-selling experience.

1. Invest in your curb appeal

You might be super-proud of your hardwood flooring or custom cabinetry, but what’s the first thing a potential buyer sees? Your lawn. Those scraggly trees. The flower beds, or lack thereof. The front door with its faded coat of paint. All these outdoor elements create a first impression, and a good first impression sets the selling stage.

House-flipping pros know a fresh coat of paint on the doors, shutters, and exterior trim can have a much better impact on potential buyers. It’s a good idea, too, to invest in a new, stylish mailbox that matches your home’s exterior.

Other curb appeal updates can be accomplished with a little spare time and hard work. Clear out any outdoor clutter; ensure that the roof, entry, and sidewalks are clean. Clean outdoor lighting and replace any burned-out bulbs or broken fixtures. Update the landscaping by trimming trees, adding in some annuals for a punch of color, and putting down fresh mulch over all beds.

2. Know your neighborhood

Pro flippers know how important it is to make sure a home for sale fits well into its surroundings. If your home is noticeably shabbier than its neighbors, it will stand out, and not in a good way. You run the risk of people seeing it as rundown or neglected.

Conversely, if your home has too many luxury upgrades to fit into the price point of the surrounding area, you might price yourself right out of a sale. Potential buyers want to know they’ll be able to resell the house in the future; if it stands out as too costly in an area that doesn’t match, you’re likely to scare them away.

3. Do renovations right — and highlight them

The 2016 Zillow Group Report on Consumer Housing Trends found that homeowners who tackled a major renovation before selling their home tended to sell for up to 2 percent above the asking price. So if there’s a big, obvious project you need to take care of, whether it’s a dated bathroom or a sagging roof, it’s worth the time and cash to do it.

Just make sure you do the renovations right! Skimping on materials or trying to DIY a project that’s beyond your capability can reduce your home’s value, not increase it. Hire the professionals you need and pay for good materials. Then highlight the work you’ve had done, so potential buyers see the care, thought, and cost that’s gone into it.

4. Make minor upgrades for a major difference

Experienced house flippers know that minor upgrades can make a huge difference in how a home’s value is perceived. For example, replacing contractor-standard light fixtures, cabinet hardware, and faucets with premium and custom fixtures can make your home stand out. The custom upgrades are noticeable and differentiate your home from comparable ones on the market.

Consider replacing kitchen appliances with used, high-end models, as well. You can score great deals on a used stove or refrigerator. Homebuyers don’t know or care that it’s been used by someone other than you; they just notice and appreciate the quality.