As of September, the average College Station home stays on the market for 3 months; that is a month longer than it took to sell a home in College Station just a year ago. Yet there were over 200 closings this past September and there are approximately 270 active listings right now. In order to go from listing to closing, it’s going to take some work. Start with preparing to sell your College Station home by checking out these 10 best apps.

#1: Virtual Garage Sale Apps

When you decide to sell your home, the first step is to start getting rid of your junk and selling the furniture that you don’t want. In fact, according to a survey by Sparefoot, more than a quarter of the population tries to sell their things before they move, but only half have tried using the internet to do it. However, for millennials, the first thing the majority of them do before selling their home is list the things they want to sell or get rid of online.

You don’t have to be a millennial to discover the ease and convenience of holding a virtual garage sale as you prepare to sell your College Station home. There are several apps specifically designed for unloading your belongings online:

• VarageSale App – This app is free and easy to use. All you have to do is snap a picture of the items you want to sell, write a description for them, and then list your price. This app is perfect if you have a lot of belongings to sell and don’t want to spend hours uploading information on each item.

• OfferUp App – If you are trying to sell a few photogenic items, OfferUp is the app that you need. It only takes a half a minute to list your items and because items are listed in Pinterest-style tiles, if you have something really eye-popping to sell, this is the app to do it.

• Yard Sale Treasure Map – For people who are not so comfortable allowing strangers to contact them via an app, there is an app that helps you host a physical garage sale. Yard Sale Treasure Map lists all of the yard sales happening in your area and step-by-step directions to get to each sale.

Remember when selling your items online, you still want to be very careful about the people you let come by your house. The smart thing to do is to meet in a public place, preferably near your local police station. You may even be allowed to use the police station parking lot to exchange goods with virtual garage sale shoppers.

#2: Cashless Payment Apps

Cashless apps help ensure that you get paid for the things that you sell without carrying around wads of cash at a physical garage sale. Google Wallet and Square Cash are two of the most popular cashless payment apps. The money shows up practically immediately in your bank account which is important. On average, people like you sell over $4 million worth of personal items through garage sales every week in the U.S. Protect yourself from thieves by avoiding carrying around large sums of cash when selling your items.

#3: Social Media Apps

All social media sites have a mobile app too. Some of the most popular social media sites like Facebook and Instagram are great places to inform people that you have things for sell. You can also promote your garage sale on social media to people in your area using the NextDoor app.

#4: Craigslist App

Horror stories abound about Craigslist, but if you are careful about interacting with those interested in your Craigslist items, you can sell your big ticket items there. If you need to unload a couch, a refrigerator, bikes, cars, desks, etc., Craigslist is the best free listing site for it. Plus, Craigslist reaches a broad audience of about 60 million users every month.

#5: Amazon App

If you are experienced at selling online, eBay is used by around 15% of home sellers getting rid of their stuff. On the downside, trying to get setup on eBay is very time consuming and it costs money to post items there. Amazon charges a dollar plus commission for any item you sell, but if you have a closet full of books, games, and movies that you want to sell, Amazon can make it easier to do.

#6: Junk Removal Apps

Now that you’ve sold what you can sell and kept what you want to keep, it’s time to get rid of some of the junk in your house. There are several apps that can help you clear the clutter. If you have boxes and bags of trash that you need to dump but don’t have the means or the will to get it all to the junkyard, the Takl App lets you schedule a trash pickup any day of the week.

Moreover, Takl has all kinds of other features that all movers need like handy man services to make small repairs in preparation to sell your home. They also have cleaning services and lawn care specialists available to help tidy up the house when you are preparing to sell.

Clutter is the app of choice if you have several items that you don’t necessarily need but you don’t want to trash. You can request someone to come to your house, pack up those  items, and then take them to storage for you through the Clutter App.

#7: MLS Listing Site Apps 

MLS listing site apps aren’t just good for searching for homes. These apps can help you prepare to sell your house if you use them to help understand pricing and get a general idea about how much your home is worth. You can look at comparable homes on Zillow, Trulia, etc. Realtor.com often has articles and other resources to help you get educated about home buying and selling.

#8: Home Staging Apps 

There’s a reason why you have to clear the clutter first before you can begin showing your house. You want to know exactly what you are working with and with the clutter gone, visitors to your open house can start imagining themselves in your home. But if you want to make a really good impression on homebuyers, you should stage your home and there are apps for that too.

One of the top home staging apps is the RoomHint app. The best part about this app is that real interior designers help you figure out the best way to stage your home. You just upload pictures of the rooms in your house and the app figures out what furniture and color schemes work best with your décor.

#9: Word of Mouth

Of course, there is still the original way to prepare to sell your home – word-of-mouth. Traditional word-of-mouth has been given a digital upgrade. Just by telling the friends and family in your immediate social media circle that you are planning to sell your home, you can end up finding a buyer. Even if the people you know aren’t looking, they probably know someone who is. More than a third of sellers find buyers this way.

#10: Realtor® Finder Apps

All of these apps will help you prepare to sell your home, but when it comes to actually selling your home, you need the help of a Realtor® in order to negotiate the best deal for yourself. Homelight is an app that helps you find local Realtors® where you live based on your criteria.

If you are preparing to sell your College Station or Bryan home, you can contact me for expert advice and marketing knowledge for selling your home. Simply click here to get a FREE home value estimate today.

‘Let Myke Help You With Your HOMEwork!’

Email:  [email protected]

Brazos County Realty:  979-693-0201

If you’re thinking about investing in a fixer upper in College Station, Texas, there’s a number of things you should know before you commit to buying this type of real estate for your family. You have the option to choose a property in need of work rather than one that will require lower maintenance, which you can use to invest money and time while increasing its value over time. For the buyers who are interested in buying and investing in this type of real estate in the College Station real estate market, make sure to learn the pros and cons of this type of home.

Here’s what you need to know when buying a fixer upper in College Station, so you can be prepared to make the right financial move for you and your family in the city this year.

• Improving your home can be expensive 

The first factor you should think about when you’re considering a fixer upper is the amount of money you’re willing to spend on renovations. Because this type of property will require you to dedicate both time and money to your home improvement efforts, you’ll need to first work out how much you can spend per year on upgrades. You should carry out this step in the process before you get ready to make an offer, as you’ll need to go into the deal knowing how much you can spend now and in the future on your home. If you take the time to hire a contractor to do a walk-through of the house, you can get an even better idea about how much you’ll have to spend on improvements over time.

• Renovating your home can take time

In addition to considering the amount of money you’ll need to spend on upgrading your house, you’ll also need to think about the impact these changes will have on your life. You have the option to hire a contractor to do the jobs you’re not comfortable doing yourself, which can help speed up the process and limit the possibility of setbacks. Given that you can also attempt the smaller jobs on your own time, you’ll have to take into account the jobs that need to be done and how they’ll affect your day to day routine. The extent to which you’ll be able to work on and deal with home renovations is an important question to ask yourself, so you’ll be sure you can manage obstacles like work areas.

• Upgrading your home can require a permit

Another consideration when weighing the pros and cons of investing in a place that needs work done is the added cost of getting a permit in some parts of College Station. Because the ability to either make renovations without permission or acquire a permit to depends on the neighborhood, you’ll need to be aware of these limitations beforehand. The requirement of having a permit and the cost of receiving one is part of what you need to know when buying a fixer upper in College Station, so you can be prepared for the financial responsibility that comes with making changes to any part of your home. When you get the right permit and you make valuable adjustments to your property, you’ll have an easier time selling your house, especially when you take time do it right.

• Buying this kind of home can be worthwhile 

If you’re planning to invest in a home that needs major work, you should make sure that you’re getting a good enough deal to make the purchase beneficial to you. This type of home can come with challenges like structural issues, which can cost you a pretty penny should you choose to buy the home and make the repairs yourself. By hiring contractors like a structural engineer to give you an idea of the time and financial commitment you should make to improving your place, you can get a head start. You should know these estimates before you make an offer to know if you’re getting a worthwhile discount on the home and if you’re prepared to make the necessary improvements on your place.

• Financing a home needing of work can be costly

One of the other considerations to make before committing to buying a fixer upper is whether or not you’ll be able to apply for and get approved for a mortgage. As you should go through the usual steps of preparing your finances to make a purchase, make sure you have enough savings to pay for your downpayment and closing costs. You should also have a large chunk of cash available to make the most pressing upgrades, so you can cover the costs of home improvement without putting strain on your savings. For the buyers who are planning to finance their homes with a home equity or home improvement loan, apply for it and become approved before making an offer on a place.

• Calculating the right offer for the home is required  

While you’re thinking about getting a loan to purchase your home and pay for the renovations, you should also ensure you’re making a fair offer on the property. You can take the home’s market value, factoring in the price it would sell for if it were in mint condition, and then take away the costs of repairing and upgrading the living space. Once you figure out how much other houses are selling for in the College Station neighborhood, you’ll have a better idea of how much money you should put forth. The balance between market value and cost of repairs is what you need to know when buying a fixer upper in College Station to know if you’re making the right choices.

• Carrying out home inspections is essential  

You’ll need to go through the usual process of hiring a professional to inspect the home even when you’re investing in a place in need of significant rehabilitation. Because this step in the process can benefit you as a buyer or lead to added costs down the road, it’s important that you put the right amount of time and effort into this step. A professional can help you spot anything from septic to pest issues, which will help you get ready for the different kinds of replacements and repairs that come with fixer uppers. After you identify the current issues and possible future ones in the home, you can either request the seller to make some of the repairs or give you cash to cover them at closing.

• Choosing the right improvement projects can increase the home’s value

When you’re in the market for a more beneficial type of fixer upper home, you should stay on the lookout for one that requires basic cosmetic improvements. You can get started with upgrades like paint jobs, floor refinishings and more to increase your home’s market value without spending too much money on making the repairs yourself. If you stick to lucrative improvements like enhancing the bathroom or kitchen at your place, you can enjoy the highest return on investment when you decide to sell your home. The right home improvements can make your purchase of a fixer upper worthwhile, so make sure you’re making decisions to increase your home’s value according to the neighborhood.

• Doing the work yourself can be rewarding

You have the option to hire a contractor to do the majority of the work on your new place although you can also roll up your sleeves and tackle some projects on your own. Because the necessary home improvements will vary from one home to another in College Station, you can consider different DIY projects while you’re browsing featured properties. The most cost-effective approach to making a fixer upper worth your while is investing your own time on home improvement. Whether or not you’re looking forward to putting in the work necessary to transform your home, this commitment of your own time and money is what you need to know when buying a fixer upper in College Station.

• Investing in this type of home can come with unexpected costs

Once you’ve come close to making a decision about buying a fixer upper, you should be prepared for the added costs that may arise throughout your time owning the home. You should take your time when thinking about how much time and money you’re willing to commit to improving your place and then save an extra amount to cover future problems. Given that unforeseen costs can require you to spend a percentage of the amount you paid for the home on repairs and renovations, you’ll need to have your finances in order. The possibility of mishaps should be at the forefront of your mind when making this real estate decision although it shouldn’t deter you from taking a chance on a fixer upper.

A home with room for repairs and renovations throughout the years can be a smart investment once you’ve learned what you need to know when buying a fixer upper in College Station. For the buyers who are interested in buying a rundown place in one of the city’s top neighborhoods, you should be able to snag a home far below the market price in the area. This approach to real estate is ideal for people in Texas who love older homes and are ready to dedicate time and money to sell their places for higher rates than what they paid for them.

If you’re looking for more information about this important question homebuyers need to ask their realtor, please don’t hesitate to contact me to learn more about buying a fixer upper today.