Hawaii’s home prices are already at $760,500. Homes usually spend 85 days on the market. Yet, thanks to the warm weather, aloha spirit, and backyard views out of a travel magazine, Hawaii continues to charm home buyers, despite it all!
With Spring’s arrival, selling a house in the Aloha State is easier than ever. Make the most of the best time to sell this spring and sell your home now!
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Prepare your home for sale with enhanced curb appeal, neutral decor, tropical landscaping, and clean outdoor spaces.
- Decide how you want to sell, whether it’s with a local Hawaii Flat Fee MLS service, a discount broker, or a full-service Realtor.
- Houzeo, Hawaii’s #1 home selling website, can save you thousands in agent fees. Your home will also be on the MLS within 48 hours.
- Before you price your home in Hawaii, check the current median home price, recent sales, and mortgage rates.
- Conduct showings to attract buyers. Also, review offers quickly and negotiate smartly.
- Finally, schedule utility transfers, pay your closing costs, and prepare to move out.
7 Steps to Selling Your Home in Hawaii
Selling a home can be tricky for first-time home sellers. But it doesn’t have to be for you. Just follow this guide on how to sell a home, to make selling a house in Hawaii easy breezy.
Step 1: Prep Your Home for Sale
First impressions matter—especially when every block boasts palm-fringed paths and postcard sunsets, your home needs to shine from the curb up. So, focus on curb appeal to make your home look more presentable.
Here are 3 tips to make homes for sale in Hawaii stand out:
- Redo the Landscaping: Give your space that jungle-meets-beach vibe. Think native hibiscus, lava rock paths, and no weeds in sight. Clean up your yard and add some aloha, ti plants, red ginger, or a tidy row of monstera.
- Repaint the House: Choose breezy hues that reflect the island’s vibe—think coconut cream, reef blue, or sunrise coral.
- Highlight Outdoor Spaces: Style your covered porch or backyard nook like your favorite shave ice shack—laid-back, welcoming, and breezy. Think tiki torches, comfy seating, and a hammock in the shade. Buyers should feel the island life the second they step outside.
Step 2: Stage Your Home and Click Photos
A well-staged home can shine like the sun over Diamond Head and pull in buyers like a malasada truck. While traditional home staging is always an option, you can try virtual home staging to stage your home digitally.
Follow these tips to stage your home:
- Declutter and Clean the House: Clear out storage sheds, tidy up outdoor gear, and give those louvered windows a deep clean. A fresh, breezy space is key.
- Showcase Practical Features: Point out solar water heaters, double-wall construction, and good airflow—buyers here care about comfort and sustainability. If you’ve got energy-efficient windows, insulated walls, or an upgraded septic system, now’s the time to brag.
- Focus on Spacious Living Spaces: Minimal furniture and natural light go a long way. highlight open floor plans, jalousie windows, and any views of the ocean or mountains. Use breezy curtains and soft lighting to make your home feel like an open-air retreat—ohana-ready and easygoing.
- Include a Home Tour Video: Home listings with videos get 403% more views than those without it. So, make a video that shows your property in the best light!
Step 3: Decide How to List Your House
If you’re wondering how to list your house on the MLS in Hawaii, you have multiple options! Here are 4 options most sellers go for:
- Full-Service Realtors – Up to 6% : These Realtors provide services from listing to closing, but they charge 5% to 6% real estate commission in Hawaii. This seems excessive, especially when most of these tasks can be handled independently in today’s digital age.
- Flat Fee MLS – $399: If you want to sell your home yourself, you can List on MLS in Hawaii for a flat fee. With Houzeo, your home can be on the MLS for just $399.
- Discount Real Estate Brokers: These brokers charge a lower fee than traditional agents and offer services like contract reviews and negotiation assistance. Discount real estate brokers in Hawaii charge between 0.5% and 2% as commission.
- Cash Buyers: They help you sell your home fast for cash. With cash buyers, you can get competitive all-cash offers and close on your terms.
- For Sale By Owner: You can sell your home FSBO without hiring an agent. This gives you full control over the process and helps you save thousands on agent commissions.
Step 4: Price Your Home Competitively
In Jan 2025, 21.8% of homes in Hawaii sold with price drops. Inaccurate pricing forces properties to stay longer on the market. It’s important to understand market trends to know how to price your home.
Here’s how to avoid overpricing your property:
- Check Hawaii Housing Market Trends: Overpricing will leave your home sitting on the market longer than a leftover spam musubi at the end of the potluck. Reviewing the latest trends of Hawaii home prices will help you set a competitive listing price that aligns with market conditions.
- Use Online Home Valuation Tools: Price your home high, and it spends more days on market. Price too low, and you’re at a loss. Use our free home value estimator to calculate your home’s Fair Market Value.
- Get a CMA: A Comparative Market Analysis helps you understand your home’s worth based on its features and location. With your listing agent’s guidance, you can then quote the right price.
Step 5: Handle Showings and Manage Offers
Once your listing is active, buyers searching for Hawaii houses for sale will submit showing requests. Here’s what to do next:
- Actively Manage Showings: Promptly accept and confirm any showing requests. Remember to create a good impression. Don’t cancel scheduled showings at the last moment, communicate clearly about clashes, and be a pleasant host.
- Host an Open House: Even a beautifully staged home can get lost like flip-flops at the beach after sunset.Consult your agent and announce an open house to attract buyers.
- Review and Counter Offers: If you only get one offer, you might have to reduce your asking price. But if many buyers show interest in your home, you can either negotiate or choose the highest and best offer.
➡️ Remember: Selling a house here is like casting for mahimahi—you need the right timing, good bait, and a little ocean magic.
Step 6: Ensure Your Home Is Inspection-Ready
Usually, buyers will schedule a home inspection to check for any issues, while the lender orders an home appraisal to figure out the market value. So, fix up any small repairs ahead of time—no one likes nasty surprises!
Being ready for both keeps things smooth and your home’s value strong. It’s all about making sure the buyer feels good and the lender feels confident, so your sale stays on track.
👉 All Set to Sell Your Home? List on the MLS Now!
Step 7: Prepare for Closing Day
Closing day can be emotional, but don’t overlook the formalities. Just follow these final steps and you’ll be good to go:
- Gather All Documents: Before you sell a house in Hawaii, keep the paperwork for selling a house by owner ready. This includes the affidavit of title, deed, purchase agreement, tax records, settlement statement, 1099-S tax form, etc.
- Prepare to Move Out: Pack up your belongings and get ready to bid your home goodbye.
- Transfer Ownership: Sign the escrow and title documents to transfer ownership. Once done, you’ll receive the funds, and the buyer’s name gets registered in the public record.
- Closing Costs: The cost of selling a house in Hawaii includes taxes on selling a house, like Transfer Tax and Property Tax (each around 1-3%). Closing costs for sellers in Hawaii also consist of HOA, real estate attorney, and home warranty fees.
Quick Summary 📝
Whether you’re in the heart of Honolulu or tucked away near Hāna’s winding the right strategy is what you need to sell a house in the Aloha State. To start, prepare your home for sale, and click photos. Then, decide how to list your home.
Remember to price your home after checking the local trends. When your listing is live, you start getting showing requests. The buyer will conduct your home’s inspection before you can finally close the deal.
Don’t forget—selling your home in Hawaiʻi can be exciting, rewarding, and worth the planning, just like catching your first wave at Waikīkī.
» Houzeo Reviews: Read what people say about Houzeo—Hawaii’s best home selling website.
