You may think that selling land is the same as selling a home, but in reality the two are very different. In a changing real estate market, it is hard enough to sell a house, but selling land and lots can be even more challenging.
So what exactly is it that makes selling land and lots so different from selling a house? First of all, land and lot buyers are different from homebuyers. They have different needs and perspectives. While homebuyers want a home they can move into, land buyers are looking for the opportunity to customize the land to fit their needs. Selling land also requires different sales techniques, and the market for land is significantly less active than the market for existing homes. Additionally, it takes longer to sell a lot or vacant land, so the process requires patience.
Here are a few steps you need to take to successfully sell land and lots:
Understand your buyer.
When you’re selling land, it’s important to evaluate who your likely buyers will be. This depends on what type of property you’re selling, the location of the land, whether it has been developed, the market conditions and more. There also may be different buyers depending on whether it is a parcel of suburban land, a finished lot or rural acreage. After you’ve identified your likely buyers, try to think like them so you know what message to convey.
Make sure the land or lot looks presentable.
Before showing your lot to potential buyers, you’ll definitely want to clean it up. First impressions are extremely important in real estate. Make sure you remove trash and cut the grass. When your property is looking its best, take marketing photos. Some people who are selling vacant land will even plant wildflowers to make the land look more appealing.
Choose your price.
Picking a price is something that you need to put a lot of thought into. One of the biggest mistakes sellers make is pricing their lot or land too high. Pricing land can be harder than pricing a home. If you’re selling a developed lot in a community, you may be able to determine the “market” price based on the sale of similar lots. Raw land is a bit more difficult since there isn’t as much to compare to. The price you can attract for undeveloped land or a singular lot can vary based on the buyer’s intended use of the property. Land that a buyer feels is suitable for a high-end home development will likely bring a higher price per acre than land that a buyer only wants to use for a single home.
Use online listings specific to land and lot buyers
You’ll want to market to land and lot buyers in particular. While MLS is a helpful tool, it is focused on marketing existing homes. Therefore, it you want to sell land or a lot, MLS should not be a the only tool you use. Use a tool that is specifically for these listings, such as LotNetwork.com. Make sure that when you writing your listing, you understand your buyers and provide the information that they are likely to need.
Selling land and lots can be wildly different from selling a home. There may be some added difficulty, but with these tips you’ll be able to successfully sell your land or lot to a satisfied buyer.