Successfully selling a vacant house begins with proper planning. When selling a vacant home that has belonged to you through inheritance or relocation or acts as an investment property, you need a strategic approach to obtaining maximum value. Using this manual, you will learn proven methods for maximizing your empty house sale while achieving top dollar. The following section will demonstrate how working with JCH Properties as a trusted homebuyer can simplify the process.
Step 1: Put Your Affairs (and Home) in Order
Check Your Home Value
Before you sell your vacant house, you should get an estimate of its worth. Check online valuation software; however, don’t forget to note that estimates may differ. A better bet is to ask a professional who knows your region. If you want to sell your empty residence quickly in Joliet, IL, or the surrounding Chicagoland area, JCH Properties can give a quick, no-obligation cash quote based on local market and property conditions.
Calculate Your Equity
You should know how much you have invested in the house so that you can price it realistically. Subtract any liens and your mortgage balance from the value you estimate for the home. This gives you what you can take away. JCH Properties negotiates with homeowners in every financial scenario, from behind on payments to experiencing liens.
Estimate Your Net Proceeds
Include commissions, fees, repairs, taxes, and moving costs in your calculations to determine your projected profit. Remember, when you sell directly to JCH Properties, you owe no commissions or closing fees, which leaves more money in your pocket.
Begin The Process Of Packing And Decluttering
Decluttering sooner makes your home look better. Take away personal items and unneeded furniture, and clean out each room. You might already have an advantage when you sell a vacant house, but make sure it’s clean and neat for pictures and walk-throughs.
Step 2: Find a Top Real Estate Agent Locally
Use An Agent-Matching Platform For The Best Results
If you take the conventional path, use reputable sites to locate seasoned agents with experience in your area and with your type of property. Vacant properties need strategic marketing.
Interview Multiple Candidates
Speak with at least 2–3 agents before deciding. Ask them about their history of selling vacant homes and their marketing strategy. You’ll want someone who knows how to make a space appealing.
Look For Relevant Experience
A vacant home selling agent will understand how to stage, secure, and show a home. They will also have a sense of buyer psychology for such properties.
Sign The Listing Agreement
Once you’ve selected your agent, sign and agree upon the price, time of listing, and commission. Alternatively, there’s the direct sale route if you need a hurry or dislike paying commissions. JCH Properties does it without requiring this step by getting a quick and fair cash offer for your property without ever having to list.
In A Hurry? Request A Cash Offer
You must sell a vacant house quickly. JCH Properties purchases houses in Joliet, IL, and surrounding communities in Chicagoland within Illinois. No agents, no showings, and no fees—just a hassle-free process.
Step 3: Set a Price for the Home
Order A Home Inspection
Getting an inspection before listing allows you to find issues that may discourage buyers. It also enables you to repair significant problems or disclose the property’s condition beforehand.
Review Your Agent’s Comparative Market Analysis (CMA)
A CMA is a comparison of your home to recently sold homes. It’s an excellent tool for pricing competitively. Even when you want to sell a vacant house, it must be priced according to local comps.
Account For The ‘art’ And Science Of Home Value
Pricing is not all about numbers. Think about buyer psychology, seasonality, and perceived value. Empty houses need to be priced more strategically because they don’t have the warmth of a lived-in home.
Consider Online Price Filters
List your home under major price breakpoints (e.g., $299,900 instead of $300,000) to capture more online traffic. If selling with JCH Properties, pricing is less of a concern—they provide a fair market offer upfront based on a thorough evaluation.
Step 4: Prepare Your Home for the Market
Make Advisable Repairs, But Avoid Unnecessary Upgrades
Prioritize repair over upgrade. Fixing things like repairing holes, leaks, or safety matters makes a significant impact without costing an arm and a leg.
Declutter Room By Room
There could be leftover items or staging furniture unless the home is empty. Any given room must be clean and spacious. Less is more.
Do A Deep Clean Now (And A Lighter One Later)
Dust, vacuum, and clean—all surfaces must gleam. Use professional cleaners if necessary, particularly before photos and open houses.
Make Your Curb Appeal Shine
The exterior of the house is the first impression buyers will get. Trim the bushes, cut the grass, and paint the front door if necessary. A tidy exterior enhances perceived value.
Stage Your Home To Create A Warm, Inviting Space
Use light staging or virtual staging in principal rooms. It assists buyers in picturing themselves living there.
Let In Natural Light
Open the blinds and curtains. Reflect light with mirrors and make rooms appear larger.
Take High-Quality Real Estate Photos For The Listing
Hire a professional photographer. Excellent photos create more interest and highlight your home’s best features.
Step 5: Market and Show the Home to Attract an Offer
Market The Home Online And Offline
Your agent can list your home on the MLS, large real estate websites, and market on social media. Yard signs and postcards are helpful, too.
Be Flexible And Ready For Showings
Leave the home clean and open. With it being vacant, it’s simpler to tour, but make sure the property is locked and staged correctly.
Use A Checklist To Clean Up For Last-Minute Visits
Have a basic cleaning schedule handy. Even small messes can be a turn-off to buyers.
Check Your Offer(S) And Choose The Best
The outlay isn’t everything. Consider contingencies, closing dates, and financing by the buyer. A quick cash offer from JCH Properties may be the most straightforward and trustworthy option to avoid the buyer due diligence that many sellers miss.
Step 6: Complete the Due Diligence Period
Pass The Home Inspection
Buyers will re-inspect the house. Be ready to negotiate repairs or credits if necessary.
Prepare For The Home Appraisal
The lender will need an appraisal from the buyer. Ensure the house is clean and open. Emphasize upgrades or fixes that increase value.
Clear Title
Clear up any title issues before closing. JCH Properties assists sellers in clearing title issues promptly so transactions proceed smoothly.
Take Care Of Necessary Repairs
If you promise to fix things after inspection, get them done immediately.
Make Arrangements To Be Out By Closing
As the home is unoccupied, this is not a problem. Just have it empty and clean.
Plan For The Final Walkthrough
The buyer will inspect to ensure that the home is in the condition it is supposed to be when closing. Get all things ready.
Step 7: Close the Sale and Move Out
Review The Settlement Statement
This letter details your earnings, expenses, and what you owe. Could you read it thoroughly before signing? Double-check that all numbers balance and all expenses are accurate including tax prorations and closing fees –
Get Your Home Sale Profits
You’ll be paid after closing. When you sell to JCH Properties, you can be paid in as few as 14 days. The quick payment provides you with flexibility.
Check If You’ll Owe Taxes On The Sale
Get advice from a tax professional to see if you have capital gains or other taxes to pay. It’s better to know than to be surprised down the road.
Transfer Utilities
Cancel your utilities or have them transferred to the buyer’s name. This prevents service disruptions or surprise bills.
Change Your Address And Forward Your Mail
Notify the USPS, banks, and other vital institutions of your new address. Being organized after the sale keeps life stress-free.
Give Your Buyers A Great Move-In Experience
Drop keys, garage openers, and any helpful advice. A consideration handoff makes friends.
Wrapping Up
Selling an unoccupied house requires work, but with the proper strategy, you can get the most out of it and reduce the stress. If you’re prepared to sell a vacant house quickly in Joliet, IL, or surrounding communities in Chicagoland, call JCH Properties. We purchase homes in the Chicagoland area in Illinois, pay cash, and close on your schedule with no charges or fees. Receive your honest cash offer now and avoid the hassle of the conventional marketplace!
Let JCH Properties buy your vacant house easily and fast!