How To Sell Your Old Farmhouse Without Doing Any Renovations

Selling an old farmhouse can be a very difficult task, especially when you compare it to other modern houses that are also listed for sale. If you’re looking to sell your old farmhouse, you’re probably feeling overwhelmed just by thinking about the amount of money you’ll have to put in to renovate the house before putting it on the market. This is because the farmhouse, most likely, looks outdated and needs major repairs that you just don’t have the money or time to do. 

 

The good news is, it’s quite possible to sell your old farmhouse without doing any repairs. All you have to do is to list the house for sale as is, which means that you can sell your house in its present condition without doing any improvements. 

 

Listing your house for sale as-is will save you the time, energy, and money you’ll have to put into renovating it. However, it’s important to have a reputable house inspector to check the farmhouse and appraise the value. Further, the agent will inform you of any major damages and what it’ll cost to have them repaired. This way, you’ll be armed and ready to answer any questions that prospective buyers may ask while inspecting your house.

 

This article will explain certain tips that can make it easier for you to sell your old farmhouse without renovating it.

 

     1.     Know Your Ideal Buyer Pool

 

Once you’ve decided to list your house for sale as-is, the first thing you should do is learn about the people who can buy your house in its present condition. 

 

It’s important to note that not everyone will be willing to offer a fair price for an old farmhouse that needs repairs. Without adequate knowledge of your ideal buyer pool, your house will most likely be underpriced. This is why you should list your house with experienced home buyers. When you list with companies, like Teton Valley Realty, they’ll help give your home a very attractive listing presentation that makes the sale as fast as possible.

 

Another option is to sell the farmhouse to deal hunters–people who’ll buy your house because the listing price is cheaper compared to other houses in the neighborhood. They won’t mind doing the necessary renovations themselves as long as they can afford the listing price.

 

You can also decide to sell to remodelers. This type of dealer buys your home as-is and remodel it to suit their taste.

 

     2.     Get Your House Thoroughly Cleaned Up

 

This is one of the little things that sellers can do to sell a house fast.

 

Many people often undermine the importance of cleaning a house before selling it. You probably know that you have to keep your house clean, but if you intend to attract buyers to your house without doing any renovations, you must be more deliberate about cleaning your house. 

 

Cleaning is not a job to be done half-heartedly. You have to pay close attention to the windows, storage, and floor when cleaning as no one will want to buy a house with dirty curtains and carpets. You can decide to do it yourself, or if you want a more professional approach, you can hire professional cleaning services.

 

The result will definitely create a good first impression for buyers.

 

     3.     Create Open Space In The Farmhouse

 

One of the most important things people look out for when buying a house is space. Thus, you have to de-clutter your house to make it look more spacious. Discard things you don’t need in the farmhouse, especially if they’re occupying a lot of space. You can donate some as well. You can also consider rearranging the things in the farmhouse to create more space. 

 

Also, pay close attention to your cupboards and storage space. Take the time to de-clutter them because some buyers will take a look at your closet to see how much storage space you have. If you have enough storage space, you can mention it as a unique feature in your listing, which will definitely increase your chances of attracting more offers. 

 

You can take it a step further and deodorize your farmhouse, especially if there are animals around. You wouldn’t want buyers coming in and smelling an offensive animal-related odor.

 

     4.     Brighten Your Home By Adding New Lighting

 

When your home is poorly lit, it appears smaller than it actually is. Adding new lighting to the farmhouse can make the property look more spacious and welcoming.  

 

You can make the farmhouse look airy and brighter by simply adding table lamps in strategic places. Also, you can use floor lamps in dark corners of the house, giving the house a more modern farmhouse look.

 

     5.     Include The Unique Features Of Your Home

 

Including the unique features of your house in your property description can make you sell your house faster. Many home realtors take the time to stage modern houses to look more like a farmhouse because the farmhouse look has gained popularity. 

 

One unique feature of old farmhouses is the architectural design as they look nothing like the modern house designs; some buyers will be drawn to your house because of its unique look. Don’t forget to include the advantages of the location as well.

 

Many home buyers would also love the chance to acquire an old farmhouse that’s located on a historic site. If your home has any unique historic event, don’t hesitate to mention it in your listing. 

 

You can also mention unique features like a fireplace, barn door, a wide storage space, a cold closet that keeps things cool without electricity, a phone niche, and other neighborhood features. If your house has a unique story behind it, then mention it as it may inspire buyers and make them more eager to buy it. 

 

 

     6.     Boost The Exterior Appeal

 

You might have heard first impressions are important. In selling your house, the first impression is your only impression! The exterior appearance of your home is the first feature that the buyer will look at, which will go a long way in determining what their decision will be. You can make little changes to enhance the exterior appeal of your farmhouse without spending money.    

 

You can begin by scrubbing off dirt outside your house, also pay attention to the windows. Remove yard debris such as branches and dead plants as they’re sure to put buyers off. No buyer will be interested in a farmhouse with overgrown plants and trees. You’ll be doing yourself a big favor by trimming them back. 

 

You should also mow the lawn to make it look nicer. As a tip, choose to be creative and use natural stones to create garden path pavers.

 

     7.     Leave The House Before Showings

 

Most sellers make the mistake of staying in the house during showings. Once prospective homebuyers step into a house, they want to create a mental picture of themselves living in the house. Being present in the house during showings may deprive them of the opportunity of doing this. They may end up with the impression that they’re intruding into another person’s home, which won’t work in your favor. 

 

You should also remove personal things that can make buyers disconnected from the house–things like old family pictures or used bath towels should be kept out of sight.

 

     8.     Don’t Leave The House Empty

 

One of the things you can do to sell your old house fast is to keep the essential items intact. As much as you don’t want to make buyers feel disconnected from the house by hanging your family pictures on the wall, leaving your house empty can also make it difficult for buyers to envision themselves living there. 

 

Take note of the fact that your farmhouse will look smaller than it is when it’s empty, and it’s also easier for buyers to spot more faults in an empty house than in a farmhouse with things. When you keep the essential items in the farmhouse intact, it’s easier for buyers to picture how they’ll arrange their equipment and other furnishings.

 

     9.     Include Renovation Loans In Your Listing

 

This is another factor that’s sure to increase your chances of getting your farmhouse sold on time. Most buyers often hesitate to buy farmhouses as is because they’ll have to pay separately for the renovations. If they already took loans to buy the house, the renovation cost will be an additional expense that’s not covered by the loan. 

 

It would help if you worked with your realtor to have a renovation loan included in your listing so that prospective buyers will know that they can make all the major upgrades needed at once. This may encourage them to decide in your favor. However, it’s important to make sure that their credit scores check out, and they’ll have to deposit a specific amount to secure the loan.

 

Conclusion

 

Selling an old farmhouse that’s in need of repairs can be quite challenging for several reasons. With so many farmhouses to compete with, it’s easy to feel intimidated and conclude that it’s almost impossible to get your old farmhouse sold without spending a huge sum of money on repairs.

 

However, there are certain things you can do to sell your old farmhouse without doing any renovations. The tips highlighted above will make the task a lot easier for you.