Sell Your House Fast in the Scenic Mountain Valley Town of Grand Junction

You’ve had many memorable moments in your sprawling Grand Junction rancher, enjoying hiking and biking in the nearby Grand Mesa National Forest. Whether you’re relocating for a job or to be closer to family, you’ve decided it’s time to sell your home fast in Grand Junction, Colorado.

No matter the reason, there has never been a better time to sell your house fast in Grand Junction, Colorado, with its low inventory and soaring home values. We spoke to a top real estate in Grand Junction for the best advice on getting your Grand Junction home sold fast.

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1. Rave about your top River City perks

Whether drawn by the clean air, spectacular views of the Rockies, or slower pace of life, Grand Junction is enticing newcomers. Since 2020, Grand Junction’s population has grown by 8.2%.

The River City, located at the junction of the Colorado and Gunnison rivers, attracts those seeking a less hectic lifestyle, outdoor recreation, and shorter drives to work. An average commute of 16.3 minutes is lower than 26.4 minutes nationwide.

With numerous amenities bringing buyers to the area, how can you ensure they fall in love with and pay top dollar for your home?

“We have spectacular landscapes here in the Grand Valley and if your home has a great view, especially from the back patio as opposed to the front, that’s going to add quite a bit of value,” says Christi Reece, a top producing agent in Grand Junction. Bordering public land that protects the view corridor substantially increases your property’s worth.

Camping and RV ownership continue to rise in popularity in this western town. Reece says ample space for RV parking found in older communities is a bonus that attracts buyers, especially since new subdivisions with greater density have smaller lots.

Highlight these other desirable features to set your listing apart from the competition:

• Stunning views of the Colorado National Monument or Grand Mesa, the world’s largest flat top mountain

• Close to Mesa Mall, the Riverfront Trail, Canyon View Park, and other shopping, entertainment, and recreational destinations

• Convenient access to Interstate 70 and U.S. Route 50

• Near major area employers including St. Mary’s Medical Center, Colorado Mesa University, Halliburton, and Mesa County

• Location within popular neighborhoods known for the area’s best schools such as Redlands, Appleton, Rosevale, and Durham

2. Budget-friendly tips to enhance curb appeal in Grand Junction’s dry, sunny climate

You only have one chance to create a terrific first impression, so don’t overlook your home’s curb appeal for a fast and profitable sale. In a survey of top real estate agents, 94% say houses with great curb appeal fetch a higher price.

But you don’t have to spend a small fortune to dazzle potential buyers. Reece suggests adding color with fresh flowers or potted plants around your front door. According to a HomeLight survey, some of the least expensive outdoor improvements generate the highest return on investment such as:

• Hire a lawn care service for 352% ROI so spending $268 yields an increase of $1,211.

• Spruce up your yard with fresh mulch at a cost of $340 to generate 126% ROI or an additional $769.

The dry, sunny climate of Grand Junction makes maintaining a healthy green lawn quite a challenge. With annual rainfall of only 10 inches, it is one of the driest locations in Colorado. Although getting a tan might be easy with 245 sunny days per year, many plants do not fare well in this environment.

To combat the lack of rain and abundant sunshine, consider xeriscaping or landscaping that requires little water. Add color and beauty with perennials such as water-wise lavender, agastache, and zauschneria. Pink crushed gravel, high desert grasses, and cacti are also popular.

If you’ve already xeriscaped your property or added an irrigation system to keep your lawn fully hydrated, emphasize these noteworthy features in your listing. Xeriscaping is a green, locally-aware way to landscape that is a sure hit with nature lovers settling in Grand Junction.

3. Keep it simple to set the stage for a speedy home sale in Grand Junction

If you want to sell your house fast in Grand Junction, then home staging is a must before opening your door to prospective buyers.

According to a survey of top agents, nearly 83% say that a staged home sells faster than an unstaged one. Over a fifth of agents report that staging reduces the number of days on market by up to 10%. More than two-thirds say it brings in a higher price.

According to Reece, keeping it simple is the key in Grand Junction. “We trend more towards the high desert, modern feel,” she says. With gray colors tapering off in popularity and warmer tones becoming fashionable, Reece believes that an off-white paint color is always a safe bet.

Agents surveyed by HomeLight recommend these tips for a quicker, more profitable sale:

• Deep clean your home for a tremendous ROI of 935%. A cost of $167 results in an increase of $1,728.

• Declutter to generate 432% ROI or $2,564 more when spending $486.

• Don’t worry about staging your entire home. Focus your efforts on the living room, primary bedroom, and kitchen.

• More than 75% of leading real estate agents provide complimentary home staging services so ask if your agent offers this perk.

4. Give your older home a facelift without spending a fortune

Many Grand Junction communities were built in the seventies and eighties, so it’s crucial to modernize dated decor that will turn off buyers before they even set foot inside your home. Carpeted bathrooms, popcorn ceilings, and shag carpeting are among the features most likely to give away your home’s age in listing photos and virtual tours.

“The first showing is online. If you have great photography that shows the house has been updated, it really helps get people in the door and they want to see it right away,” says Reece.

Give your house a modest makeover while sticking to a budget if you want to sell your house fast in Grand Junction. Reece says today’s luxury vinyl flooring is incredible and updates a house quickly. Waterproof and available in various thicknesses, handy homeowners can affordably install floors priced from under $2.00 per square foot at Home Depot.

Top agents surveyed by HomeLight offer these suggestions:

• Install a patio cover to provide shade from the sun. This is the number one outdoor feature in the Mountain region. Pergolas are popular in Grand Junction and available for about $1,500 at Costco and Sam’s Club. You can also opt for a less-expensive fire pit to increase marketability.

• Transform your bathroom with a lavish new shower head and boast about popular features such as extra storage or heated floors.

• Buyers today prefer kitchen upgrades such as an island, walk-in pantry, and lots of drawer and cabinet storage, so highlight these features if you’ve already remodeled.

• Give a light update to your kitchen with an attractive backsplash and give your home a new look by replacing hardware and light fixtures for a few hundred dollars.

5. Don’t let hidden dangers or neglect sink your sale

You can resolve issues and gain a better understanding of your home’s value with a pre-listing inspection, typically priced at $325 to $400 for a 2,500 square foot house, according to Chris Heinemann, a Grand Junction Certified Professional Inspector®.

The International Association of Certified Home Inspectors® provides a listing of certified inspectors in Grand Junction.

“You will sell your house faster and make more money with no second set of negotiations,” says Heinemann. He explains that your house could be off the market for a couple of weeks while the buyer gets an inspection and then renegotiates if there are any unpleasant surprises. You could lose the buyer and have your home on the market for much longer or accept a lowball offer.

Watch out for these roadblocks when it comes to home inspections:

Soil

Heinemann says expansive soil commonly found in Grand Junction presents one of the biggest challenges to homeowners. Expansive soil is laced with layers of clays such as bentonite and montmorillonite. This swelling soil is a major geologic hazard in Colorado that causes considerable property damage.

According to the Colorado Geological Survey, water makes the soil expand up to 20% by volume and exert a force of up to 30,000 pounds per square foot. “The trick is to keep moisture away from the home so soils don’t expand,” Heinemann says.

Consult a foundation repair company if an inspection reveals issues. While simple fixes in some cases, more extensive work could cost from $5,000 to $50,000. However, being proactive could keep your sale from falling through.

Routine maintenance

Make sure you’ve taken care of routine maintenance for a trouble-free home inspection to sell your house fast in Grand Junction. Heinemann reports experience with homeowner neglect jeopardizing sales of relatively new homes. Spending $200 to service your HVAC unit is one simple way to avoid a prolonged sale.

Radon

Produced by uranium and radium in Colorado soil, radon enters homes through cracks and gaps in the foundation and increases the risk of lung cancer. Heinemann suggests spending $75 to $150 for a radon test before listing. A radon mitigation system, costing $800 to $1,200, reduces high levels and reassures concerned buyers. According to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, radon levels in more than half the state’s homes exceed the EPA’s recommended action level of 4 picocuries per liter of air.

Sewer

Heinemann also recommends a sewer scope of the sewer line from the home to the street. For $150 to $200, a camera performs the inspection to identify defects and tree roots that could cause sewage to back up into the house.

6. Sell your Grand Junction home twice as fast with an all-star agent

Sell your house in almost half the time by working with a top real estate agent who has years of experience and in-depth knowledge of Grand Junction property values. Leading agents in Grand Junction sell homes in 47 days compared to 82 days for average agents, according to HomeLight’s transaction data.

Top agents know what features new buyers look for and have a network of contractors, interior decorators, and photographers to provide any services you need. And they’ll also be able to offer strategies for dealing with common challenges in Colorado such as radon.

With 665 active real estate agents to choose from, how do you find the best agent for a smooth and speedy sale? Utilizing data such as average days on market, list-to-sale price ratio, and client reviews, HomeLight makes it easy to find the right agent in Grand Junction for your location and price point.

7. Make your move hassle-free with HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform

Perhaps you’ve been transferred to corporate headquarters and have only a couple of weeks before you move. Or maybe you’ve inherited property and don’t have the time or resources to get it ready for market.

That’s where HomeLight’s online Simple Sale platform comes in. Just answer a few quick questions and get a competitive cash offer in as little as 10 days without the hassle or expense of making repairs, agent commissions, and financing contingencies.

Put your plan into action to sell your house fast in Grand Junction

To sell your home quickly, show off the location features that bring buyers to Grand Junction such as amazing mountain views and proximity to outdoor recreation.

Modernize outdated decor and invest in affordable upgrades like luxury vinyl flooring or a patio cover offering escape from the hot summer sun. Add plants requiring little water to enhance curb appeal for a great first impression.

When you’re ready, let HomeLight help you find a top real estate agent to guide you every step of the way to sell your house fast in Grand Junction.

Header Image Source: (Paul Gana / Shutterstock)