What is the same about
selling a house and getting a haircut? Well, once we decide it’s time then we always seem to want it done yesterday. But it is easier to get a haircut on a whim than it is to get a house sold that way. Lots of people ask me, “What do I have to do to sell my house quickly? I guess they want to know what I think because I’ve bought and sold a lot of houses.
Then I have to pause a minute, because whenever someone asks me how to sell quickly a logical thought crosses my mind, and I have to be careful how I reply to them because I might personally be interested in buying their house. Although I haven’t seen it, their house might be a good investment for me.
After giving consideration to buying their house myself, I begin to wonder if I should give them my real answer or tell them to talk to a real estate broker. Actually, this is a tough call for me because I like real estate brokers. Most brokers do a good job for their clients, but I make a point of only making referrals to brokers I know personally. Now let’s answer the question, “How can I
sell my house quickly?” The real answer is not what you think. It’s not about a real estate broker at all, not really.
My answer to them is, “You have to find the buyer yourself.”
I’m serious, that’s exactly what I tell sellers who are determined to sell a house quickly. And what I mean by using that heavy-hitting sentence most sellers don’t like is that each one of us knows our own house better than anybody else, so we know why other people will buy it, too. Which means we know who will buy our home, at least we know it’s likely to be someone who appreciates the same features that we liked when we bought it.
As a homeowner who decides to sell your house yourself or to hire a broker to help you, it’s good to remember there is one secret to selling a house quickly. The secret is to think really hard about who might want to buy the house right now and then go talk to those people to find out if they are interested. It’s not really a process of “selling,” it’s a process of finding someone who is already interested.
In this area, brokers do not have an advantage over the homeowner. You know your neighbors and you know where they shop and where they hang out. Your neighbors are the best prospects to consider, and those are actually the people whose family members or friends may want to move into the neighborhood, too. Go talk to the people in your neighborhood and find out if they know anyone who might be interested in your house. Now you know my top reply to the question, “How do I sell my house quickly?“ My answer is: Talk to your neighbor and do it now!