5 Strategies to Quickly Sell a Home to Military Buyers
Service members are quick on their feet and used to making logical but quick decisions. This is why homeowners looking to sell this PCS season need to be on their game for prepping their house for sale. Military families tend to look for time-efficient qualities when searching for their next home, because short timelines are the rule.
These time-saving tactics are what military home buyers are looking for:
1. Curb Appeal is No Joke
The idea that home shoppers would simply drive past your unkempt yard and porch without a glance inside is a real possibility. First impressions start directly at the curb. A landscaping overhaul won’t be necessary, but a yard (front, back, and side) free of overgrowth is the optimal place to start.
These trimming, pruning, cutting, and hauling chores absolutely can be executed by the owners—at the cost of many hours of manual labor. Hiring a team of professionals is an easy way to quickly knock out the clean and tidy look your buyers want. Plus, as the showing season moves on, you’ll be busy, so hiring a crew to maintain the entire property is very cost- and time-beneficial.
Pay special attention to the front porch and door areas. Again, an intense cleaning is the best bet, likely with the addition of power washing the surfaces of the house. Sidewalks and driveways are also part of the grand cleanup plan.
The condition of the front door shouldn’t be underestimated. Although a new front door system is a great return on investment, you might not need that much of an upgrade. New paint and hardware often do the trick. Innovative, possibly “smart” light fixtures are sure to please, but mailboxes and house numbers update the space inexpensively as well.
Colorful planters, a trendy welcome mat, and a crisp new American flag round out the extras that make a standout difference to buyers.
2. House Must Be Move-in Ready
With the perpetual threat of moving after only a short stay in the house, military families don’t have the luxury of taking their time to dote on a fixer-upper. They want to settle in and enjoy learning about the new city with their family before a PCS or deployment pops up again.
Move-in ready is an extension of curb appeal but for the interior. Clean surfaces from ceiling to floor and everything in between are required, as are repairs. Buyers notice every. Little. Thing. Dirty appliances, nail holes, and scuffed stairs are just the beginning of the touch-ups that need to be addressed.
More costly updates may be required according to your local market. For example, carpet isn’t in favor with buyers right now. Wood flooring is a go-to recommendation to sell your property quickly. Updated kitchen and bathroom countertops are also high on buyers’ wish lists.
3. Heavily Market Commute and School Zones
So much energy is wasted on the to and fro of everyday life. Commutes from work are central to a service member’s quality of life, not simply because of the stress of traffic and loss of time, but for the unique circumstances they may encounter with the job, such as of-the-moment recalls and emergent matters that require attention at all hours of the day. Providing exact commute times or alternate routes help buyers envision their daily routines.
Unequivocally, quality schools are one of the most sought-after aspects of the new house. If the house has the top schools zoned, flaunt them repeatedly in all marketing pieces produced for the home. If the local public schools are lacking, offer your buyers options by detailing the best private school around or highlight the house’s bonus room as the perfect homeschooling solution.
4. Update Your Home to Be VA-Loan Compliant
You can bet military buyers are going to heavily investigate their VA loan benefit to buy your house. Make the whole selling process much easier and faster by giving the VA what they want: a house compliant with the Minimum Property Requirements (MPRs).
MPRs are the mandates a VA appraiser has to verify are existent. Some MPRs are no brainers, like a working heat and water system, but other deficiencies are difficult to remediate, like lead paint or mold growth.
Many times, it’s valuable for the seller to consider hiring a home inspector qualified to investigate MPR issues before the VA appraiser stops in. By clearing up any possible issues the appraiser might have, the buyer and seller both save time and money from additional inspections and processing fees, just to name a few extra costs.
5. BAH Drives Mortgage Calculations
It’s no secret what military members are paid. It’s simple to guess how the majority will want their new mortgage to add up. Good old standard BAH calculations give sellers an idea how to price their home for the most likely buyers in your market.
If your community is military saturated, your guiding number will have to be what they can afford. It’s a waste of precious time and energy marketing a house way out of your pool of home buyer’s abilities. These numbers might require homeowners to reconcile their personal finances in a different way for the home sale to be profitable or worthwhile.
Military life moves at a rapid pace, and this includes relocation. Preparing your home to suit military member’s conditions will certainly give your property an advantage to turn over a quick contract. When the home sale timeline is properly shortened, both the buyer and seller win.
by Dawn M. Smith for MilitaryByOwner
