Can I Sell My House in West Seattle and Fauntleroy Without Listing It?

Is now a good time to sell my house in West Seattle?

It depends more on your plans than on the market. The right time is usually when a sale fits your next move, your finances and the state of the house.

The West Seattle numbers worth watching are time to contract, price cuts and what similar homes closed at, all of which a local agent or the public sale records can supply.

More in How Do I Know When It’s Time to Sell My House?

Should I sell my West Seattle house as-is or fix it up first?

Fix only what will add more to the price than it costs. Sell as-is when the work would be large, slow or uncertain.

Newer homes dominate West Seattle and Fauntleroy. Only one of the three homes in our sample were built in 1980 or earlier, so an older house stands out, and buyers will set it against move-in-ready neighbors. Older homes there hold more of their value against new construction than the Washington median, 33.7 percent against 30.3 percent.

More in Should I Sell My House As-Is or Fix It Up First?

What are the benefits of selling my West Seattle house off-market?

Privacy, no repairs and a closing date you choose.

• Privacy. The house is never listed for sale, and there are no showings or open houses.
• No preparation. No repairs, staging or deep cleaning before you sell.
• Certainty on timing. You choose the closing date at the start, not after the inspection.
• A simpler negotiation. One buyer and one conversation, from offer to closing.

The cost is fewer buyers bidding. On the open market, competition can push a price higher, so it is worth weighing both routes. Should I Sell My House Off-Market? explains how.

How fast can I sell my house in West Seattle?

As fast as the title work allows, if you sell privately. You and the buyer set the closing date, and the title search and Washington’s closing documents set the floor.

A listing adds preparation, showings and negotiation up front, then the buyer’s inspection, appraisal and loan approval, any of which can push the date or end the deal.

If you are relocating, read How Do I Sell My House Fast When I’m Moving for Work?

What does it cost to sell a house in West Seattle?

Commission first, then transfer taxes, title and closing fees, and the repairs or credits a buyer asks for after inspection. Address District charges no commission.

Federal tax on the gain may not apply at all. If you owned the house and lived in it as your main home for two of the last five years, the IRS lets you exclude up to $250,000 of gain, or $500,000 for a married couple filing jointly.

Line by line in How Much Does It Cost to Sell a House?

How does selling my West Seattle house off-market work?

In four steps, with no listing and no showings.

1. You tell us about the house, by the offer form or by contacting us.
2. Someone on our team reviews the house and the neighborhood and may ask to see it.
3. You get an offer, with no obligation to accept it.
4. If you accept, a title company or closing attorney handles the closing on the date you choose.

You will know in writing who the buyer is before you sign anything.

What if my West Seattle house isn’t selling?

Usually the price, sometimes the condition, occasionally the marketing. The showing count tells you which.

Before you talk to another buyer, read your listing agreement. Most owe the agent a commission on any sale during the term. More in Why Isn’t My House Selling?

How does West Seattle compare with nearby neighborhoods?

West Seattle and Admiral, 2 miles away, has one older home among the three we sampled. Central District and Capitol Hill, 6 miles away, counts two older homes among the two we sampled. Burien, 6 miles away, shows one older home among the two we sampled. West Seattle ranks tied for 707th nationally for older homes, behind one of them.

Every neighborhood in the index has its own page, and the Washington page lists all 48 in the state.

Do older homes in West Seattle sell for less than new construction?

In our sample, yes. The one older home in the 98136 sample sold for 33.7 percent of the average price of new construction in the same ZIP code. The Washington median is 30.3 percent, and the index median is 23.1 percent. With one older home behind it, treat the figure as a rough guide.

The gap reflects size, lot and condition as much as age, so price an older house against recent sales of other older houses nearby, not against new construction.