How To Sell Your House With Code Violations In Hawaii

Do you own an old, true fixer-upper house in Hawaii that you no longer want to own or simply can’t maintain? A house that’s even costing you in fines? Just because the house needs some (okay a lot of) work, doesn’t mean that you have to be chained to it forever. You can still sell your house in Hawaii, get a fair price and be done! Learn how to sell your house with code violations in our latest post!

If your Hawaii property is in need of major repairs (“fixer-upper” or “distressed”) that are costing you in fines due to local code violations, it can be difficult to know how to sell it or even how to take the first step. Your list of potential buyers will inevitably be much smaller (unsurprisingly), so finding the right buyer will likely take longer than a house that is a move-in ready house in Hawaii. However, just because your house needs some (or significant) work that you don’t wish (or can’t afford) to do, doesn’t mean that you should necessarily have to give it away for free. Below are a few of our best tips for selling your house with code violations in Hawaii!

Estimating Repair Costs

If your house needs a lot of work, you’ll want to get some estimates from local contractors so you know what you’re dealing with before trying to sell your property in Hawaii. Do you know how much it will cost to remodel the house or at least make it liveable again? Repair the roof? Clean 6′ high grass? If you don’t know how much the renovation costs are, it’s going to be very difficult to properly price your property; you risk scaring away potential buyers. Usually, the issues that cause the code violations in the first place are significant enough to require a professional estimate.

Finding The Right Buyers

Not everyone in Hawaii is looking for a fixer-upper property, especially when there are major repairs required. It’s no secret that most home buyers in Hawaii want a home that’s move-in ready. Finding the right buyers can take a fair amount of time, especially when you choose to list your property with a Hawaii real estate agent and you’re competing with fully remodeled houses down the street. When trying to sell a house with code violations in Hawaii, it may be better to work with a real estate investor or direct buyer.

Price The House To Sell

If you are trying to sell a house with code violations to a traditional retail buyer in Hawaii, you’ll need to price it properly (re: attractively) to sell. If the issues with the property are severe (re: costly), many lenders won’t finance a loan for a new buyer, so you may need to accept cash offers only. Before you publicly list the property or begin trying to sell your house on your own, find out what we can offer you! Our background and experience allow us to more economically fix and renovate houses, and almost always at a lower price than if you were to do it on your own. This saves all of us money in the long run.

Fix The Smaller Things

Even if your house has major code violations you aren’t able to or can’t afford to fix, try to attend to the smaller items if you’re able to. Fix nail houses in the walls, take care of chipped paint, stop leaky faucets and replace any burnt out light bulbs. Little things like this can go a very long way.

Have The House Cleaned

It may feel silly having the house cleaned if there are code violations throughout the home (most houses with code violations are in some form of disrepair). However, it will make the property more appealing to your potential buyers when they walk through. Few things give a worse first impression than a dirty house. Hire a professional cleaning company to make sure no spot is left unturned. Of course, a direct “as is” buyer like Oahu Home Buyers can look past all the dirty and clutter and save you the cost, hassle and elbow grease.

Emphasize The Good

You will be surprised by what some organization and a fresh coat of paint can do for a home. Of course, you’ll still need to disclose everything going on with the house, but why help potential buyers see the highlights? Consider hiring a professional cleaning company, stager, and photographer to help make sure the property is being seen in its best light. You can also offer schematics to help your potential buyer imagine what the property could become with a little work or maybe an additional bathroom. This will also help your buyer get a better idea of what will be required to make the home what they want it to be.

Why You Should Sell Your House Directly

By keeping your house off of the public MLS, you won’t have to deal with inconvenient property showings, marketing costs, staging, general nosiness (or invasion of privacy), or the continued upkeep/maintenance. You won’t have to wait around, not knowing when (or if) your house will sell or what you will be offered. You won’t have to pay agent commissions, fees, or closing costs. Our selling process is simple and efficient, helping you to sell your house fast without any further aggravation… no matter what condition the property is in! Learn more about what you can do to sell your house with code violations in Hawaii, you might be surprised at how simple selling your house can be!