Iowa’s median home price is $258,000. But, homes in Iowa typically spend around 31 days on the market. How’s that? Well, thanks to Iowa’s friendly neighborhoods, low property taxes, and top-ranked schools, buyers are rolling in like tractors at the State Fair parade!
With sweet corn stands popping up and festivals in full swing, summer in the Hawkeye State makes home sales hotter than a July grill in Des Moines. Make the most of this season 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 Iowa Flat Fee MLS service, a discount broker, or a full-service Realtor.
- Houzeo, Iowa’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 Iowa, 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 a House in Iowa
Selling a house can be tricky for first-time home sellers. But it doesn’t have to be for you. Follow this easy guide to learn how to sell a house in Iowa and navigate through the process seamlessly.
Step 1: Prep Your Home for Sale
First impressions matter—especially in Iowa, where your home might be up against charming farmhouses, manicured lawns, and tidy brick ranches. So, focus on curb appeal to make your home look more presentable.
Here are 3 tips to make homes for sale in Iowa stand out:
- Redo the Landscaping: Boost your curb appeal with low-maintenance perennials, native prairie grasses, or a well-trimmed hosta border.
- Repaint the House: Go for timeless Midwestern charm—think barn red accents, creamy white trim, or a calm, slate-gray exterior.
- Highlight Outdoor Spaces: Highlight the backyard fire pit, swing set, or garden beds—buyers appreciate homes built for both BBQs and bonfires.
Step 2: Stage Your Home and Click Photos
A polished home sparkles like Main Street on Tulip Time and draws in buyers just as fast. 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: Don’t let winter grime linger—power wash the siding, sweep out the salt stains, and polish up the front door.
- Showcase Practical Features: Buyers in Iowa care about the bones, so showcase a new roof, solid insulation, or a high-efficiency furnace. Highlight energy-efficient windows, updated HVAC systems, and that all-important storm shelter or sump pump.
- Focus on Spacious Living Spaces: Let in the light, pull back the drapes. Use simple furniture and neutral tones to make rooms feel larger, brighter. Buyers love big basements, flex rooms, and open kitchens—so declutter and define every space.
- 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 Iowa, you have multiple options! Here are 4 options most sellers go for:
- Full-Service Realtors – Up to 6%: Traditional agents provide services from listing to closing and charge 5% to 6% real estate commission in Iowa. This seems excessive, especially when most of these tasks can be handled independently in today’s digital age.
- Flat Fee MLS – $399: Wondering how to sell a house by owner in Iowa? You can list on MLS in Iowa 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 Iowa charge between 0.5% and 2% as commission.
- Cash Buyer Companies: 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, 25.9% of Iowa homes sold with a price drop. 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 Iowa Housing Market Trends: If you price too high, expect it to sit like an NFL combine in January. Reviewing the latest trends of Iowa 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 Iowa 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 perfectly staged home can get lost, like a mitten at recess. 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 in Iowa is like planting sweet corn—you need patience, the right weather and time, and a bit of luck!
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 Iowa, 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 public record.
- Closing Costs: The cost of selling a house in Iowa includes taxes on selling a house, like Transfer Tax and Property Tax (each around 1-3%). Closing costs for sellers in Iowa also consist of HOA, real estate attorney, and home warranty fees.
Quick Summary 📝
Whether you’re in the heart of Des Moines or tucked into the quiet streets of Decorah, the right strategy is what you need to sell a house in the Hawkeye 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 Iowa can be exciting, rewarding, and worth the planning, just like catching the last golden hour over a backyard bonfire with friends.
» Houzeo Reviews: Read what people say about Houzeo—Iowa’s best home selling website.
