If you’re facing a possible foreclosure on your home, you’re probably experiencing a myriad of feelings. Aside from being overwhelmed, it’s not uncommon to feel sadness, bitterness, anger, and desperation.
However, before you tumble past the point of no return down the rabbit hole of emotions, consider this – you can beat the foreclosure date! A foreclosure warning isn’t the end!
Once a foreclosure warning is issued, you will have 30 days to act. However, if you’ve been struggling to make ends meet, including on your mortgage, you’ll know well in advance that a foreclosure may be on the horizon.
In this case, there’s much hope to be had! Keep reading to find out how you can sell your home yourself and beat the foreclosure date!
Tips to Beat the Foreclosure Sale Date
As we suggested above, even if there’s a slight chance your house may go under foreclosure, you need to be proactive. Allow yourself to have the necessary emotions involved with being forced out of your home, but don’t allow yourself to become apathetic.
As soon as you realize you’re going to have trouble making payments, you need to start busting your butt to get your house sold.
Follow along for our quick guide on how to sell your home fast and beat that foreclosure sale date!
1. Move Out and Declutter
First, your life will be much easier if you can move out. Ask a friend, family member, or even a parent if you can bunk with them for a short period of time. Rent a storage unit for all of your stuff if necessary.
An empty house is much easier to clean, fix up, and show to potential buyers.
If for whatever reason moving out isn’t an option, you need to declutter and depersonalize your home as much as possible. Again, renting a storage unit would be a tremendously good idea. Make your house completely neutral and as minimalistic as possible.
Ultimately, your home needs to feel spacious, open, and inviting to potential buyers coming through. This can hardly be achieved if your home is full of clutter and personal effects.
2. Make Minor Repairs
Now that your home is as empty as possible (even if you still live there), it’s time to start making minor repairs.
Because you’re facing foreclosure, we realize that money may be an issue. However, we’re not asking you to break the bank here. Fixing minor issues goes a long way towards keeping buyers interested with the ultimate goal of beating the foreclosure sale date.
For example, focus on any leaking pipes, faucets, appliances, or any other plumbing around the house. Water damage is a huge red flag for most people, as it can lead to mold and other big-picture issues down the road.
You’ll also want to fix up damaged drywall, trim board, cracked or broken windows, door handles, fixtures, etc. These small issues will look big on a potential buyer’s list of cons.
Finally, adding a fresh coat of interior paint helps brighten and freshen up rooms, making them feel clean and new.
3. Clean Like Crazy
Now that your home is mostly empty and repairs have been made, it’s time to start an epic cleaning quest. Start by cleaning and sanitizing the bathrooms and kitchen. Make sure all the appliances are clean and no smells remain!
Next, wipe down and scrub all horizontal surfaces. Finish by cleaning the floors as best as possible. Scrub hard-surfaced floors and vacuum and shampoo carpets.
You can do the floors yourself or hire professional cleaners if stain removal or deep cleaning is necessary.
4. Up Your Curb Appeal
Next, you need to work on your curb appeal, which is vastly important if you want to beat the foreclosure sale date. It’s the first impression buyers will get of your home as they pull up for a walk-through. The outside of your home must make buyers want to look inside.
Start by cutting the grass, pulling weeds, trimming trees and shrubbery, and removing all debris and garbage from the yard.
If you want, you can paint the outside of the home as well, but it is quite a large project. However, clean the exterior walls at the very least.
Finally, spruce things up by adding potted plants, planting flowers, or adding mulch or other decorative fillers to “dead” spaces.
5. Hire a Realtor
Once your home is ready for its debut on the market, it’s time to hire a realtor.
Hiring a realtor will cost you money once your house has sold, however, it’s a necessity if you want your home sold fast. Remember, a realtor only gets paid if your house sells, so they have a lot of incentive.
Additionally, they have market knowledge and real estate contacts that may greatly benefit the sale of your home. They know what buyers want to see, how to negotiate, and how to market your house.
6. Price It to Sell
Next, in order to beat the foreclosure sale date, you need to adhere to the old adage – beggars can’t be choosers.
While we know you’re not a beggar, we also know that time is of the essence and you need your home to sell quickly. Therefore, we highly recommend pricing your house to sell. We’re not saying you need to take a major hit, but if you want to pull in as many buyers as possible, you need to be offering a hot deal.
Additionally, be ready and willing to compromise and negotiate. Don’t allow yourself to react emotionally to low-ball offers or anything that seems “unreasonable.”
7. Use a Real Estate Cash Buyer
Finally, sometimes you have to call it what it is and realize selling your home the traditional way may not be fast enough. Sometimes, in order to beat a foreclosure sale date, you have to use a cash buyer.
Even though you may see it as your last option, using a real estate cash buyer may be your best bet.
It’s quick, easy, and depending on the buyer, more than fair. Cash buyers are also more likely to buy your home as-is, so if you don’t have time or money to prep it for selling, it won’t be a problem.
Instead of your last consideration, it may benefit you to make it the first.
Good Luck
We’re sorry that you’re facing a foreclosure sale date, it’s never a pleasant experience. However, just remember that we’ve got your back if you need us.
Regardless of the condition of your home or the circumstances of the foreclosure, we can help.
Contact us if you’re ready to be done with it all and sell your house within 7 to 10 days!
