Real Estate Listings
As the fourth-largest city in the nation, Houston, Texas, is known for its professional sports teams, space program and affordable real estate. In fact, the real estate in this culture-filled metropolis is among the cheapest in cities of similar size. With so much to offer at such a nice price, you may find yourself agreeing with the city’s citizens that it doesn't get much better than this.
Selling a house in Houston is easy when you highlight your home’s best features and advertise with a competitive price.
 |
||
| Population 1,953,631 | Median Age 30.9 yrs | Household Size: 2.67 |
| Avg Commute: 27.4 min | Avg Income $36,616 | Avg Home Value: $79,300 |
| July High: 93.6°F | January Low: 43.2°F | |
Selling a House in Houston
If you are planning on selling a house in Houston, there are many things you can do before you put your home on the market to help get you the offers you want more quickly. From fixing up trouble spots to hiring a professional, you can get a better price by making your home more attractive to buyers.
The first way to make your home more appealing is to make it look bigger and better. Buyers want to be able to see themselves living in your home’s environment, and no one wants to live in a dirty, cluttered or old-looking house. The easiest way to make you home look bigger is to clean up the clutter. Cleaner houses appear to be bigger. Also, adequate lighting will make rooms appear larger and more attractive. Apply a fresh coat of paint or get carpets professionally cleaned, so buyers can see the house in the best condition possible. Increase curb appeal by keeping your lawn neat and properly maintained.
Next, enlist the help of a professional who knows how to improve and price your home. Hire a Realtor or real estate agent who knows the best prices in the Houston area for homes in similar conditions. If you try to price your home without the help of a professional, you run the risk of over pricing and not selling or of under pricing and not getting your home’s full value. Also, hire a professional home inspector who can thoroughly examine your home for trouble spots.
Whether you can fix these problems depends on how much time and money it takes. In any case, you will be aware of trouble buyers’ inspectors may find and can anticipate the problems. Both real estate agents and inspectors can help you determine how much to fix before you sell and can tell you how problems will effect the price of your house.
Once you have a real estate agent or Realtor, you can begin advertising your home. Agents can place your advertisement in online databases (for example, Realtors use the MLS) and in magazines. You can also use your local newspaper and place a sign in your front lawn. The more advertising your home receives, the more likely prospective buyers will see it.
You can also opt to have public open houses to show your house. You can choose whether you want a large number of people walking through your home. It is not likely that someone will buy because of an open house, but it is one way to let a number of people see it in a short amount of time.
By doing these simple things, finding a prospective buyer for your home should be simpler and less stressful. Selling a house in Houston becomes even easier when you make your house more attractive to buyers, and with the right price and the proper exposure, you will sell in a shorter amount of time. Make your house worth competing over by making it seem bigger and better.
By Kristin Armitage
A REALTOR® is a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS®