All Forum Posts by: Antwaun Sumpter

Hi, I am an investor here in the Columbia area. I agree that West Columbia and Cayce are good investment markets. I would like to also include NE Columbia as well. If you have any questions or you are in need of any further assistance feel free to reach out to me Hsinvestmentsa1.com

Enhance Your Entrance

You only have one chance to make a first impression, which is why one of the most important tips to selling your home fast is to have curb appeal. Buyers look for a good presentation – many basing their final decisions on it. To make the most of your home, make sure to show it in its very best condition.

Here are three key areas to pay close attention to:

Landscaping

Good landscaping can quickly transform the exterior look and feel of your home. Hire a landscaper to do the job, or do it yourself. Trimming the shrubbery, mowing the lawn, and planting a few flowers can add a lot of appeal to your property.

Front Door

Make your front door the centerpiece of your home’s curb appeal. Repaint it a striking, tasteful color, or sand it down and stain it. Finish the look with updated lights, potted plants on either side of the door, and a new, high-end knocker and handle.

Front Walkway

Since the front walkway is what leads the potential buyer inside your home, you have to make it pop. You will definitely earn points with buyers if you install a high-end material such as brick. Don’t forget to accentuate the walkway with lights, rocks, or flowering plants.

The outside of a house speaks volumes about the inside, and about the owner. Taking care of the little things and making sure that your home’s entryway is inviting will make visitors feel welcome. 

Hi, I am in Columbia and would be glad to assist you any way I can. You can visit my website hsinvestmentsa1.com all my contact info is there.

There are two different ways a house can reach an auction: either the home has gone into the foreclosure process, or the owner did not pay property taxes. The starting bid on the home can be the remaining balance on the mortgage, or lower.

Once a home reaches the courthouse steps, buyers must be ready to pull the trigger fast. Buying a house at the auction can be a high risk, but the reward can be extremely high as well. You will have to do a lot of research about the current market and have a solid understanding of just how much you’re willing to spend.

Keep in mind that when buying a property at an auction, you will likely be required to buy the home with cash. Each auction company and county government requires a certain method of payment. Familiarize yourself with the process of your local auction ahead of time.

One of the biggest tips we can provide is to make sure you have someone with you at all times who understands the local auction process – especially if you are a novice buyer. This can help you to protect yourself from making a bad decision. Whether the person is your agent or your attorney, have someone there to represent you in the transaction. Having an expert’s help will allow you to reap the benefits and avoid the risks. 

Another good way is to work with wholesalers and other investors. There are investors and wholesalers in your area who are clamoring to get great deals, do all the leg work, and leave you the option to choose the deal that best matches your criteria. 

How to Find Investors and wholesalers:

Foreclosure Deals

A foreclosure occurs after a homeowner fails to make payments on their property. When a foreclosure property hits the market, it doesn’t take long before the sharks start to circle. As a first-time homebuyer or as a real estate investor, these are deals you will want to jump on. The reason is, that little tag hanging from the For Sale sign that reads “foreclosure” is essentially a clearance sticker. But before you jump right in, you have to take the time to learn the process.

When a homeowner falls behind on their mortgage payments, this typically means they have been struggling for quite some time. This could also mean that, in some cases, the home may be in general need of repair and maintenance. Be prepared to deal with leaky roofs, missing light bulbs, poor landscaping, cracked windows, broken appliances, etc. So while you may be getting a steep discount when buying foreclosures, it is important to understand your total cost of repair before making any moves. 

Modernize Your Marketing

If you want to sell your home fast, you have to be up to date with your marketing techniques. Easy access to the Internet has sped up both the buying and selling process. Buyers
and sellers alike can conduct all of their research online. This means that you have to
do everything you can to make sure your home stands out from the rest. Luckily, online marketing can cost little to no money and yield great results.

Within each marketing method that you use, make sure to deliver a strong clear message and great pictures. Here are a few of our favorites:

Online Classified Sites- The modern day classified ad is online. Try using free marketing sites like Craigslist. Include an attention-grabbing headline, photographs, and sufficient information about the property (number of bedrooms, bathrooms, square footage, etc.).

Blogs- Blogs are an easy way to simply talk about yourself and what you’re doing. If you have a blog, make sure you’re posting about the home you have for sale. You can attach the link to your blog in your emails, on your Facebook wall, or anywhere else you can think of.

Social Media- If you have a personal Facebook page, make sure you are posting about
your home for sale regularly to create buzz. You never know whom you have in your social network that either knows someone looking for a house, or looking to buy themselves. Facebook is the leader of the pack when it comes to social media. However, you should also utilize websites like Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest.

Real Estate Search Engines- Try and advertise your home on the nation’s largest search engines for real estate such as Realtor.com, Zillow, or Trulia. The key to success here is to make sure that your home pops up right away and at the top of the search page. 

A local real estate investor can often pay cash for your property.

Investors also are looking to close very quickly. They are looking for the next big project and want to work right away.

Typically, investors will offer to buy “as is” and can even purchase sight unseen. As a seller, this allows you to avoid any costly repairs that you might otherwise have to do.

If your house is priced right and in an area where it can be fixed up and sold, you will have several investors interested in it.

“There are investors in your area who are clamoring to get a property like yours. If they haven’t found you yet, then it’s time that you find them.” 

Work With Investors

While it may seem pretty obvious that involving a real estate agent is a great way to sell your home fast, not everyone will think of working with real estate investors. There are investors in your area who are clamoring to get a property like yours. If they haven’t found you yet, then it’s time that you find them.

How to Find Investors:

Meeting With Investors:

Buyers will always look for lower comparable sales or current listings to justify making

an offer below your asking price. Knowing this as a seller, you have to give your buyers incentive and motivation to quickly reach your asking price. Don’t start out with the highest asking price on the street – you should be in line or slightly below market value and create immediate demand.

Keep in mind that just because you price your home low, it doesn’t mean you’re going to lose money on it. Many agents will use this strategy to entice multiple offers, which can
then push the price higher. Typically, it’s recommended that you price your home just below comparable homes on the market. If your asking price is too high and you can’t sell, then you may end up making more incremental price drops and could risk seeming desperate.

Does this strategy always produce a higher sale? No. Some potential buyers may look for reasons to justify the low asking price. They may think something is wrong with the home or the neighborhood. Remember, each house and each buyer is different. However, if you want to sell your home fast, putting a steep price tag on your property certainly won’t help. Pricing low will speed up the sale in most any market.