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What Makes a House “Sellable?”

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We know when a person is fashionable and we know when a topic is debatable. But what makes a property sellable? If you’re worried about why your house isn’t selling, read on to see if it checks all the sellable property boxes.

Is your property listed at the right price?

Here’s the thing: every property is sellable if it’s at the right price. By “right price,” we don’t necessarily mean the exact value of your home but more so the price that buyers are willing to pay for.

Here’s an example: a beautiful mansion located in an area where there’s no demand for that kind of luxury will likely sell below its worth. You can sit and wait for the right buyer but you might end up waiting forever. Otherwise, you can keep lowering the price until someone bites. This isn’t ideal, but we have some other solutions we’ll mention towards the end of the blog.

Is your property in a good location?

This is a tough one, because you obviously can’t just up and move your house to a more desirable location. But we all know how powerful location is — people will pay a premium price for even the most rundown of homes as long as it’s in a good spot.

Do whatever you can to sell up the location you’re in. In a super remote location? Hype up the peace and quiet. Near an industrial site or an airport? Talk about being close to a lot of jobs (or consider if you’re located in a place that might one day be up and coming — it’s a trend we see with many industrial locales). 

If none of that seems to work, find a platform (such as RealtyHive) that targets a larger audience. Expanding the location of the people who see your property creates more potential to find a buyer and, ultimately, a sale.

Do you have good curb appeal?

Around the corner from where I (the writer) live is a house that used to be a Pizza Hut. The once-parking lot is now a lawn but nothing has changed the fact that when you look at it, it’s clearly a Pizza Hut. I’ve heard the interior is really modern, but I’m still not convinced that it doesn’t smell like greasy, cheesy pizza inside.

That tells you pretty much all you need to know about curb appeal. While the Pizza Hut house isn’t a lost cause, it’s undoubtedly lacking in sellability. Countless buyers looking for homes will feel the exact same way that I do, which limits maximum potential.

If the Pizza Hut house had some beautiful trees, shrubs, and other landscaping, you truly couldn’t even tell it was once a restaurant. First impressions are important, which is why it’s essential you examine your home’s exterior when trying to sell.

Does your house make foundational sense?

A house on stilts makes sense in Florida or the Caribbean — not so much in the frozen tundra that is Wisconsin. Houses without basements aren’t uncommon in warmer, drier states. In tornado country, a house lacking a basement is kind of scary.

If your house is structurally sensible for the region, you have an asset(s) that you should absolutely highlight. For all you know, a buyer from Arizona might be shocked at your green lawn or unfinished basement — what’s common for you could very well be a novelty for others.

If your house lacks structure, curb appeal, location, or any other sellable factor, don’t despair. Don’t let it sit for months on end without an offer in sight — sell with RealtyHive instead! We’ve got the exclusive marketing you need to help your home go to the right buyer. Find out today how a time-limited event can help your house for sale.

Think You’re A Real Estate Pro? Take the Quiz and Find Out!

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When it comes to real estate knowledge, are you as seasoned as an agent or still renting a studio? See how you stack up with our real estate quiz!

1. What does a buyer do FIRST when they find a house they want?

A. Hand over cash to the seller.
B. Set a closing date.
C. Write an offer.
D. Sell their current house.

2. True or False: A house can’t fail a home inspection.

3. What happens when a real estate agent refers you to another agent?

A. You pay both agents separately.
B. The referral agent gets a cut from the selling agent’s commission.
C. The agent who is referred gets their entire commission.
D. The referral agent automatically gets the next closing.

4. Which of the following is NOT a downside to FSBO (For Sale By Owner)?

A. It’s a lot of work.
B. A property could sit on the market for a longer period of time than normal.
C. A property could sell for less than if the sellers had an agent.
D. Sellers won’t have to pay agent commissions.

5. What can a non-recourse loan be used for?

A. Purchasing a home.
B. Purchasing just a vacation rental property.
C. Purchasing just a long-term tenant rental.
D. Purchasing properties that are turned into rentals (regardless of type).

6. Why is “We Buy Houses For Cash” a bad idea? Choose all that apply.

A. It’s a scheme that only offers cash for sales.
B. It’s a scheme that preys on the vulnerable.
C. Sellers tend to massively lose out on their home’s actual value.
D. It’s a scheme that takes any property, which hurts future buyers.

7. True or False: It’s a bad idea to list your home in the fall.

Friendly neighborhood with porches and sidewalk.

8. What is an escalation clause?

A. An addendum that sellers include in their home listing.
B. An addendum that buyers can add to their offer.
C. An addendum that real estate agents write up at closing.
D. An addendum that lawyers add in at closing.

9. Which of the following is NOT an advantage to building a house?

A. Getting to customize the design.
B. Having more control in a house’s structure/overall look.
C. Typically more expensive than buying.
D. Can add in features that are more expensive to install on an existing house.

10. What’s the difference between a vacation rental and long-term tenant rental?

A. Long-term tenant rentals are for people living in the property for a longer amount of time (usually on a lease), vacation rentals are for guests to rent during travel.
B. Vacation rentals are only in tropical locations, long-term tenant rentals are in cities.
C. A vacation rental has to be listed on Airbnb and a long-term tenant rental is listed with VRBO.
D. Long-term tenant rentals are exclusive properties that people rent first, then buy.

Answers

1. What does a buyer do FIRST when they find a house they want? 

A. Write an offer. The sellers have to accept the offer in order for the sale and eventual closing to go through.

2. True or False: A house can’t fail a home inspection.
True. Home inspections solely look at the conditions of a house. Even if your house has major repairs needed, you won’t “fail” an inspection.

3. What happens when a real estate agent refers you to another agent?

B. The referral agent gets a cut from the selling agent’s commission. Referral agents traditionally get 25% of a closing agent’s commission.

4. Which of the following is NOT a downside to FSBO (For Sale By Owner)?

D. A property could sell for less than if the sellers had an agent. Real estate agents have more of a pulse on listings and pricings and can get sellers the best deal.

5. What is a non-recourse loan used for?

D. Purchasing properties that are turned into rentals (regardless of type). As long as the home was built after the ‘40s and is not the owner’s primary residence, a property will qualify.

6. Why is “We Buy Houses For Cash” a bad idea? Choose all that apply.

B. It’s a scheme that preys on the vulnerable.
C. Sellers tend to massively lose out on their home’s actual value.

7. True or False: It’s a bad idea to list your home in the fall.

False. That myth might have once had more truth to it, but in this day and age you can still list your home in the fall (or winter, for that matter).

8. What is an escalation clause?

B. An addendum that buyers can add to their offer. Escalation clauses give a buyer’s offer a boost. If there are other interested buyers, this clause allows buyers to say “I’ll increase my offer by [x incremental dollars].”

9. Which of the following is NOT an advantage to building a house?

C. Typically more expensive than buying.

10. What’s the difference between a vacation rental and long-term tenant rental?

A. Long-term tenant rentals are exclusive properties that people rent first, then buy.

If you got all 10 right…

You are a seasoned real estate pro! Are you sure you’re not a real estate agent?

If you got 7 to 9 right…

You are at least a second-time homeowner! You have tons of insights that you’ve gained over the years.

If you got 4 to 6 right…

You’re a first-time homebuyer! You’re learning lots and it’s starting to show.

If you got 3 or less right…

You’re a renter! Good for you for building your real estate knowledge — keep going!

The Downsides of Selling FSBO

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With real estate databases like Zillow and Trulia, it makes sense that selling for sale by owner (FSBO) became increasingly popular in recent years. FSBO is this seemingly easy way to sell your house and save money in the process.

But all that glitters is not gold, and the same is true for FSBO. Even if you’re dead set on selling FSBO, take these drawbacks into consideration.

You probably won’t make as much money.

FSBO homes usually go for less money than ones listed with a paid service, such as this home in Haines City, FL.

Most people want to skip working with a real estate agent so they can avoid paying thousands of dollars in commissions. And it’s true — going the FSBO route will eliminate those pesky fees.

But what most FSBO sellers don’t realize is that listing with an agent usually garners a higher selling price. Even after paying commissions, there’s a good chance you’d still make more money off your home sale when working with an agent. Their invaluable experience can oftentimes pay for itself.

The research is time-consuming and technical.

Properly valuing a home (such as this 4-bedroom) requires a lot of work.

From big things to tiny details, the amount FSBO sellers need to know is practically endless. Here are just some of the things you’ll need to research and/or create:

  • Comps: What other homes in your area are selling for. Be warned — just checking Zillow is not enough. You’ll likely have to speak to a county clerk to find comps (comparable prices).
  • Listing Price: Figuring out how much your house is worth is one of the most difficult parts of selling by yourself.
  • Disclosure Statement: Most states require sellers to provide a document indicating issues with the house (such as radon, structural problems, etc.).

Be prepared to handle even more details and responsibilities when selling FSBO.

Negotiations can be exhausting and difficult.

Back-and-forth negotiations can make selling even the most beautiful of homes extremely stressful.

Some people thrive in negotiations, others prefer to let an expert deal with it. Considering most sellers are not real estate experts or agents, even the most confident negotiators struggle to get the best price.

Unlike something you’re selling at a garage sale, your house is possibly the biggest investment you’ll ever make. Sentimental attachments, lack of real estate experience, and inability to handle negotiations can result in losing money — or even losing the sale.

Marketing is more than just listing your house.

It’s tough to market certain properties, especially international abodes like this Spanish home.

Selling your house isn’t just taking pictures on your iPhone and posting on Zillow. You need professional photos and a way to truly get your property out there. In big cities, your online house listing will be a dime a dozen. In smaller areas that are just outside of cities, your house could easily get overlooked and lost in the shuffle. 

You could have the best house in the world, but if it’s not properly marketed, it won’t sell. 

One small mistake can cost you a fortune.

Whether it’s a modest 2-bedroom or a luxurious 4-bed, 3-bath, no one wants lose money on their property.

From signing agreements to preparing closing documents, the number of legal documents and paperwork to go through is a lot. If you’re not extremely careful (and knowledgeable), you could lose a lot of money. Even if you still don’t want to work with a real estate agent, you should, at the very least, hire a lawyer to help you go through documents.

RealtyHive: A Better Solution Than FSBO

Don’t want to work with an agent and pay commissions? You don’t have to! Decide you want someone to help? We’ll help you find an agent! Want to skip showings and sell as-is? By all means! RealtyHive takes care of the marketing, listing price, the time-limited event, and can even help you get money back at closing, all thanks to Cashifyd.

FSBO is definitely an option, and for some people, it works just fine. But if you don’t want to take your chances at such a massive sale, let RealtyHive make selling your house easier than ever. List with RH today!

Should I Sell My Home By Myself?

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Relying on real estate agents to sell your home has decreased in popularity over the years. While the convenience of working with a real estate agent is great, many sellers are shying away from having to pay commission. This begs the question: should you sell your home by yourself?

There can be huge benefits to doing so, but there are a number of factors to consider. Take a look at what’s all entailed in going the FSBO (for sale by owner) route.

Homework & Pricing

Figuring out your listing price is a critical first step. Priced too low, your home won’t get you your money’s worth. Too high, and you might struggle to sell—it’s like the Goldilocks of real estate; you want your listing just right! Do your homework by looking at similar listings to your own home, in your area, to get a general idea of selling prices. An online valuation calculator can also help you find a reasonable estimate. To go a step further, find recent neighborhood comparable sales (“comps”) within the last year by visiting your county’s courthouse or record office. 

As a reminder, real estate agents are not appraisers, but they do all of these things (and rely on their own expertise) to come up with a good listing price. Additionally, a pre-inspection can provide some insight to pricing your home appropriately. Look into hiring an appraiser if you want professional guidance.

Preparing & Staging

You’d probably lose interest in a home listing that had few photos, or photos that showed clutter and grime. If your home’s listing photos aren’t up to par, you’ll miss out on potential buyers.

Preparing and staging your home are crucial to your FSBO home’s appeal. Here are some things to keep in mind when readying your home for its closeup with the camera!

  • Declutter. Tidy things up and clean like company’s coming over.
  • Landscaping. Mow the lawn, trim the bushes and trees, consider planting some flowers for even more appeal.
  • Update. Those things you’ve wanted to upgrade but haven’t? Now might be a good time. Even a fresh coat of paint can work wonders.
  • Highlight. What are your home’s best features? Focus on these when photographing your home, and make sure they’re especially primed and polished for the camera.

One more thing: Taking photos of your home on a smartphone will not cut it. Use a professional camera and editing software, or hire someone who can really help the beauty of your home stand out.

Showings

When setting up showings, it’s best to set showing hours on your own schedule—that way you won’t be waiting on someone to show for three hours or have people over at 10 p.m. on a Tuesday. You can set up an open house and include the time and date of this in your FSBO home’s marketing. You can also respond on an individual basis, but again, it’s best for you to say “Between ___ and ____ work for me on Saturday, when should I expect you?” 

Inspections

An interested buyer will set up a home inspection. A home inspection helps the buyer negotiate your listing price and/or make sure certain things get fixed. As a seller, it’s recommended that you get your own inspection (pre-inspection or otherwise) so that you can compare notes and advocate for your price.

Lawyers & Title Companies

There’s a lot of paperwork that goes into closing on a house. If you choose to sell your own home, there’s a lot to be said for working with a real estate lawyer. While you can find paperwork for selling your house online, working a real estate lawyer adds a sense of relief and reassurance—you know your bases are being covered.

Even if you’re able to do every single thing in the FSBO home selling process, there’s one thing that can’t be DIY. You’ll need to work through a title company or agency to safeguard your transaction. These are relatively easy to find, and they will walk you through the final steps of selling your home.

Banner with white man standing in front of house with text "Buy. Sell. RealtyHive."

As you’ve probably gathered, selling your own home is a detailed and lengthy process! It can absolutely be done, but you can also rely on the professionals to make your FSBO home sale easy. RealtyHive can help FSBO clients with marketing, pricing, and even an auction. Or if you end up wanting to work with an agent, we can steer you in the right direction with your area’s most trusted real estate agents. Contact RealtyHive today to make your home selling process a breeze!

Can I Sell My Property Online?

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When you’re ready to sell your house, there are many routes you can go—particularly in the online realm. Selling properties online is convenient (and can even save you money), but which option is the best? RealtyHive is here with the answers—learn about online real estate sales, home auctions, and more in today’s blog.

RealQuick: Do I Need a Real Estate Agent?

If you want someone to take care of selling your property from start to finish and minimize work on your end, a real estate agent might be a good choice. However, avoiding a real estate agent can save you up to 6 percent in commission. If you have the time, going the FSBO (for sale by owner), route can save you money that would otherwise go to an agent and still sell your property. 

Online Real Estate Databases

PROS: Convenient, “free,” easy to navigate

CONS: Can still end up working through an agent, takes time to create a great FSBO listing

Using online real estate databases make selling your property easy. Some sites may require a small percentage commission or a flat-rate fee. Sites like Zillow and Trulia are free to use, but this comes with a slight catch. Zillow and Trulia make their money from advertising, which can put real estate agents ahead of your property. If a buyer wants to go through an agent, you could lose money.

Additionally, you’re in charge of your online home sale. You have to do the staging, photography, and marketing for it—free online real estate databases are just the platform.

Personal Online Marketing

PROS: In your control, free

CONS: Time-consuming, may only reach a smaller audience

Posting up your FSBO listing on Craigslist or even Facebook Marketplace is free. It can be nice to see who’s interested in your community, especially since not everyone in town is likely to pass by that “For Sale” sign in your yard. However, you might not be able to find as reliable buyers, and your listing won’t be seen by nearly as many people. This is because Zillow and Trulia account for most people looking online to buy a home.

Home Auction Sites

PROS: Efficient process, attracts serious buyers

CONS: The selling price is not a guarantee

Home auctions have grown increasingly popular—sales through auctions have increased roughly 25 percent each year. While they once were usually associated with foreclosure, auctions have been deemed a reputable and even preferable selling option. They’re much faster than most selling methods and great for selling in a slow market (and can help you save money). Auctions also attract serious buyers, which means your home can be on the market for a shorter period.

Additionally, home auction sites like RealtyHive offer marketing. You won’t have to worry about professional photography and marketing your property online to attract buyers and get the best price.

Some auction sites do “absolute auctions” where the house is sold to the highest bidder, whatever the price. RealtyHive does things differently. If sellers aren’t satisfied with their home’s auction bids, they don’t have to sell. On the flip side, the property can go for even more than what the seller thought to list it for.

Banner with white man standing in front of house with text "Buy. Sell. RealtyHive."

There are multiple ways to sell your house online. If you’re looking for an efficient, reliable, and potentially money-making process, RealtyHive is your answer. We are a licensed online auction site that anyone can use. Contact RealtyHive to learn more about how to put your property in a time-limited event!