4 Tips to Get Your House to Sell Fast in Columbia, SC

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If your main concern is selling your house in Columbia, SC in as short of time as possible, the obvious answer is to list low. However, if selling quickly isn’t your only concern there are other ways to improve your listing. Some of these are simple fixes that can be done fast and have a big impact. Today, we’ll be covering the top 4 ways to get your house in Columbia, SC to sell fast.

Key Points

• Make some quick, aesthetic repairs that help your home show better
• Clean and declutter to prevent distracting from the good things
• Improve curb appeal to get more showings
• Stage your home to show off the home’s potential

You’re a Columbia, SC resident looking to sell your property quickly, but you’re not sure where to start. Considering how competitive the market is for buyers, it seems like selling would be easier.

The average home value in Columbia, SC stands at $179,706, undoubtedly lower than most US cities. So it stands to reason that you’ll have an easier time getting your home sold in Columbia, SC.

But what if I told you that you might be standing in your own way of selling your house?

There are a lot of “sell my house fast” schemes out there, but I’m going to give you the real answers to selling your house fast in Columbia, SC.

How to Sell My House Fast Columbia, SC

Your listing photos are the first thing buyers will see, and potentially the last. These need to be attractive, accurate, and very telling of what living there will be like. 

If your home has visible imperfections, faulty wiring, poor plumbing, or overall just looks old and decrepit, this is going to hold you back. Even small, cosmetic changes can be the difference between a sold home and an aging listing. 

Let’s talk about how you can sell your home fast as a Columbia, SC resident!

1. Quick and Easy Repairs Help Sell Your House Fast

As previously mentioned, obvious damage and fixer-upper homes can keep your Columbia, SC house from selling fast. If the house you’re selling is in dire need of repairs, this may turn away prospective buyers. No one wants to invest in a money pit. 

A fresh coat of paint can do wonders for your home’s exterior or interior look. Try to stick with neutral colors that your buyers are less likely to paint over. If your carpet is worn down, stained or otherwise damaged looking, get an upgrade! 

If your fixtures and cabinets look like something out of the 80’s or older, modernize their appearance! Seeing “retro” looking fixtures and wallpaper might be fun for some, but some buyers may see it as a sign that the home hasn’t had an inspection in awhile.

Prioritize Repairs

While cosmetic upgrades can make your home look far more attractive to the eye, they shouldn’t be used as a cover for more pressing issues.

The biggest deal breaker is leaving your buyer with a long list of repairs for things like air conditioning, plumbing, lighting, heating, and architectural damage. You wouldn’t want to move into a house where the toilets work only half the time, so you can’t expect your buyer to want to either.

2. Clean and Reduce Clutter

Your photos and house tour videos (should you have any) should be a preview into what it would be like to live in this home. Too many personal affects, clutter, and general mess will not attract buyers. You must stage your house in a way that’s attractive, yet neutral to any interested buyer (but more on staging later).

Whether you’re getting pro shots taken of the home for a listing, or showcasing it via an open house, there are steps to be taken to ensure your home is perfectly cleaned and uncluttered. Here’s what you need to do:

Reduce Personal Decor

First, reduce as many personal affects you can such as family photos, posters, religious paraphernalia, children’s toys, collections or displays you may have etc. Pack these away in storage bins or boxes and take them to a storage unit. If you have already moved into your new home and just need to sell your old one, you can simply take everything out.

Pro Tip: If you are still living in the house, do not fill your closets with boxes. You want to show off the closet space your buyers can expect.

The idea is to show off the home’s best features while still being able to live in it if you have not yet moved yourself. Your buyers should be able to picture themselves living there and not be distracted by mess and personal items.

Deep Clean the Home

Second, you’ll need to do a deep clean of the home. Not just a spot clean, a really thorough cleaning. You might be able to get away with some surface cleaning in your listing photos, but when buyers come to see the house that’s a different story. They will look through every nook and cranny trying to find something wrong with the house. So remember, if you sweep it under the rug, they will find it. Deep clean these areas to ensure you have a home that’s ready to be showcased:

• Clean your baseboards
• Wipe down inside and outside of your kitchen cabinets
• Mop your kitchen and bathroom tile
• If possible, organize your fridge and clean it out to prevent smells
• Give your showers, tubs, and toilets a good scrubbing
• Thoroughly vacuum your carpets and remove any stains

Pro Tip: If you’re strapped for time, call on some friends or hire some professionals to get the job done faster.

3. Staging Your Home

Now let’s talk about staging your home to help sell your house fast in Columbia, SC. This process goes hand in hand with cleaning and decluttering the space. If you’ve already moved into your new home, all your personal belongings will be out of the way and it will be easier to clean.

Furniture

You can decide to leave the home empty, and leave the possibilities open to the imagination of your buyers. Or, you can leave some furniture (or buy) and gently stage the home.

Again, keep it simple. You don’t need to go for a theme or go all out (but if you do, I won’t stop you). The staging furniture should be simple and keep things neutral. The point is to give your buyers an idea of what life could be like there.

Furniture is not required, but it does make a house more inviting to be sure. Consider this when staging your home to help sell your house fast in Columbia, SC.

Wall Decor and Paint

As previously mentioned, when staging your house, you want to keeps things neutral. Buyers are turned off by bright, loud, wallpaper patterns and paint colors.

White, off-white, and beige are always safe bets when it comes to wall paint. If you do have some color, make sure its subtle. For instance, a very soft blue bathroom may create a more calm feeling. Soft and subtle grey paint is also acceptable. You want to stick with soft colors that won’t distract your buyers from the quality of the home.

4. Improve Curb Appeal

While you’re focused on cleaning the inside of your home and staging it, don’t forget about the exterior! The outside of your house is more than likely the first thing buyers will see on your listing. This can make or break a sale. If your house looks unattractive from the beginning, you’re going to have a hard time selling your house fast.

Power washing can make a huge difference in your home’s appeal. If you’ve got a stained driveway, artillery fungus on your home’s siding, or sun damaged, chipping paint, a good power wash can make your home look sparkling new! You can buy power washing tools and clean yourself, or you can hire a professional. Lack of curb appeal can definitely be a deal breaker, so take pride in the look of your home! 

How to Sell My House Fast Columbia SC (Final Thoughts)

If you’re looking for answers to “how to sell my house fast in Columbia, SC,” there are ways to get your home sold faster by far. 

The median yearly income of Columbia, South Carolina residents is about $47,286. This can give you insight into what kind of offers you may receive. This is noticeably less than the median income you might have seen in our Milwaukee article.

Making easy improvements to your house will make it more attractive and less of a fixer upper. This will draw attention to your listing. No one wants to invest in a house that will end up draining their bank account with repairs. 

They’re already spending a fair amount of cash plus additional fees that come with purchasing a home. Your buyers don’t want to fund a remodel as well.

Ask yourself, what can I change about my home selling strategy to improve it quickly?

What is the Best Way to Sell My House Fast Columbia SC?

The best way to get your house in Columbia, SC to sell fast by far is by hiring an experienced Columbia real estate agent. Despite what you might think, a quality agent will hear you out and work overtime to get your house sold in your desired window. 

Secondly, reducing your asking price in your listing. You might think this will attract lowballers, when in fact this will actually create competition. A great home at a low asking price is a gold mine, this will attract buyers and the offers will climb. You may end up selling for more than you expected.

Get started on selling your home fast with FastExpert!