Our latest post discusses what many homeowners don’t know about selling a house in Lafayette, LA. Find out what to anticipate before you list with a Lafayette real estate agent! The process may not be what you expect!
Do you want to sell your house fast in Lafayette, LA? If you are thinking about listing, you should know what you are getting into. For many home sellers, listing their property is a disappointment because their house may not be worth what was thought. There may not be a large pool of buyers, or you may have to deal with a long list of expenses beforehand.
You May Face More Than One Round Of Repairs
When listing a house with a real estate agent in Lafayette, LA, the house must be in good repair. The cost for repairs can add up quickly, making the owner even more ready to get the house sold. However, when a potential buyer comes along, they will have the house inspected and appraised. Their offer will likely identify defects that allow them to back out of the sale if it doesn’t appraise high enough or larger repairs are discovered after the inspection has commenced. Modern-day real estate inspectors have grown in sophistication in finding flaws in the house. As they see it, their job is to devalue your property to the max for the buyer’s benefit. If more repairs are required, the potential buyer will turn to you to fix them or to offer a price reduction. So when all is said and done, you may be facing repair bills before listing the house and then again after you have found a buyer and the inspection has been completed. Not to mention the haggling that is involved!
Marketing Costs are Often Overlooked
You need to know exactly what you are getting into when working with a Lafayette real estate agent. Some agents list and wait, while others are full-service, pulling out all of the stops. If you decide to list your house in Lafayette, LA, look for a premium agent or be prepared to pay for some of the marketing yourself. Professional photography, staging, signage, premium ads, and open houses aren’t always included. Many sellers will end up paying for these services themselves to sell the house in a reasonable amount of time.
Selling Timeframes Can Vary
Just because your neighbor’s house sold in a week doesn’t mean yours will too. When you list your house on the Lafayette, LA MLS, there is no guarantee when your house will be under contract or when it will close. Waiting could be days, weeks, or months. Some sellers don’t find a buyer at all, and they are forced to take their homes off the market. Homes for-sale-by-owner won’t sell as quickly as direct selling. It can be difficult for families forced to live in limbo while waiting for a buyer. With a direct Property sale to Louisiana Direct Home Buyers, you’ll know exactly when the closing will take place.
Sales Can Fall Through
Imagine waiting months to find the right buyer, only to have the sale fall through at the last minute. This happens more than you might think due to underestimating required repairs. Buyers will normally have a protection clause in their contracts that allows them out of the sale if the estimate for repairs comes back too high or major problems are found after the inspection. You may still be able to sell if you lower your price, but after doing so much work to list it, many sellers are unwilling to drop the price as much as the buyer would like them.
Showings Are Often Last Minute
If someone drives by or reads about your house and wants to see it right away, it’s in your best interest to let them. This is good for the sale of your home but bad for your lifestyle and stress level. When listing your house with a Lafayette, LA real estate agent, you’ll need to be prepared for showings that can happen at the drop of a dime. You might get a call saying someone wants to see the house in 30 minutes. You’ll have to make sure it is show-ready and make yourself scarce while the home is being shown. This process can become draining when it frequently happens during the sales season. However, turning away from your potential buyers is the last thing you want to do when selling your house. It’s a burden you bear when you sell your house in the retail housing market.
SELLING YOUR HOUSE DIRECT
You may think that you need to hire an agent, list the house, and wait for a buyer, however. This is not the case. There are many ways to sell a Lafayette, LA house. A direct sale is the best way for many Lafayette, LA homeowners to sell their homes. When you consider all of the listing costs, holding costs, and commissions, working with the right property buyer can be the most beneficial choice. You’ll be able to avoid the costs, the showings, and the waiting.
Learn more about the many things homeowners don’t know about selling their Lafayette, LA homes! Contact us today!