Sell House Fast in Reno: 7 Tips to Market to California Buyers

Reno is consistently named one of the best places to live thanks to its vibrant nightlife, proximity to Lake Tahoe, and relatively low cost of living. And it’s not just the locals taking notice — 60-70% of homes in Reno are purchased by California buyers, according to top local agent Michael Wood. With so much burgeoning interest in the city, you’re in a prime position to sell your Reno house fast.

This guide will get you in the California state of mind to speak the language of local buyers who love the outdoors and want their own little desert paradise. Follow these tips and you can upgrade from the Biggest Little City to Sin City or wherever your next move takes you.

Enhance recreation-focused spaces

Since Reno is all about the outdoor lifestyle, it’s not uncommon for residents to amass gear that exceeds their current storage space. When purchasing a home, these buyers look for built-in storage space and large garages to house their collection. Here are a few tips that help them see your house as a storage haven:

• Declutter your garage and add gear organizers such as bike hooks, ski racks, and golf organizers.
• For a luxe finish, put in additional overhead lighting and coat the floor with epoxy so light bounces through the space. Include listing photos of the garage with and without your car to help buyers gauge its size.
• Clean up your driveway if it’s the right size for RV and boat parking. Repair cracks in the concrete, remove stains, and blast the surface clean with a pressure washer. Sweeten the deal with a hose and power outlet conveniently located next to the driveway, perfect for prepping recreation vehicles for their next adventure.
• Inside your home, whip your closets and storage rooms into shape with tidy organization systems. For small equipment such as climbing and mountaineering gear, install a pegboard with hooks — this gear display is bound to excite outdoor-loving buyers.

Sell your in-law suite

Top real agent Michael Wood, who sells 66% more homes than the average agent, shares that homes with a separate, self-contained living space score big points with buyers looking to accommodate aging in-laws, adult children, or Airbnb guests.

So talk up your in-law suite, or consider converting a flex-room into a bedroom with a kitchenette, including features such as a bar height table and a freestanding pantry. To further sell the space, improve the unit’s accessibility with senior-friendly features such as larger light switches, transparent cabinet doors, threshold ramps, and grab bars in the bathroom.

Create an outdoor desert oasis

With average summer temperatures sitting in the low 90s, a well-maintained backyard is a major selling point for Reno buyers. Buyers look for a grassy patch for kids and pets to play on, a BBQ island or cooking station, and a fire pit to curl up under the stars.

If you own a pool, keep it clean and full of water throughout the listing period. Turn on any water features such as waterfalls or spouts for the photos and in-person showings. If you don’t, then consider installing a bubble fountain or a contemporary water wall to achieve a desert oasis vibe.

According to Wood, buyers also go crazy for oversized sliding doors between the home’s great room and the outdoor living area. The ideal, Wood says, is the ability to go from casual outdoor cocktails to dinner inside and then back out for a glass of wine and socializing around the fire pit. “The whole indoor /outdoor concept is in demand,” remarks Wood.

Style a bright and airy interior

According to Taylor Cohee, who leads sales and marketing at a Northern Nevada and California real estate development company, the earthy palette once ubiquitous in Reno homes is out. Today, buyers prefer light and bright interiors with modern hardware and finishings. To get the look:

• Paint your walls a light taupe color such as Edgecomb Gray by Benjamin-Moore, or go for a pristine white-on-white look using the same white paint for both the walls and trim.
• Style the rooms with light-colored furnishings and modern farmhouse accessories, such as reclaimed wood wall art, wire baskets, and repurposed rustic vases.

Bring your kitchen up to date

Given that Reno’s median home age is 32 years old, there’s a good chance you’ll want to update your kitchen to bring in more buyers. As with the rest of the interior, buyers love white on white kitchens, so consider hiring a professional to paint or reface your cabinets if they’re currently a darker color. For an easy, high-impact upgrade, add new stainless steel appliances and an under the counter beverage cooler — the latest kitchen must-have, according to Wood. If you have the budget for a more extensive remodel, replace the countertops with a light granite or quartz material and add a white subway tile backsplash.

Appeal to Reno’s growing remote workforce

Between the COVID-19 pandemic shelter-in-place ordinances and a steady migration of Californian techies, an increasing number of Reno’s workforce works from their home. Draw these remote workers to your listing by staging a spare bedroom or alcove as a home office to help buyers envision where they can set up shop. Wood also reports that Reno buyers regularly place fast internet access at the top of their wish lists, so consider hardwiring your home to increase internet speed.

Design a spa-inspired primary bathroom

After a long day in the desert heat, Reno buyers want to retreat to a spacious, spa-like primary bathroom. When available, buyers prefer bathrooms with a separate water closet and double vanity. Rain head showers and a large soaking tub are also on the wish list. If your house has these features, make sure to display them prominently in your listing. For a quick update, replace lighting fixtures and hardware such as cabinet knobs, towel racks, and toilet paper holders.

Sell the Reno lifestyle in an eye-catching listing

Shine the spotlight on how your home embodies the Reno ideal lifestyle with professional photos and a detailed listing description.

Reno’s landscape changes with the seasons, so make sure that photos of your home’s exterior are recent and reflect the current season. Old exterior photos can lead buyers to think the property has been sitting on the market for months, decreasing their desire to make an offer (or at least a strong offer). In addition to fresh exterior photos, include professional photos of the interior, including the inside of your recently organized storage spaces and garage.

When it’s time to write the listing, craft an enticing description that links your property back to the local attractions, such as the closest of Reno’s 22 casinos, access to the city’s renowned bike paths, and proximity to walkable downtown and midtown areas. If your home is close to a main business strip or a large employer such as Tesla, Amazon, FedEx, Patagonia, or In-N-Out, highlight the average commute time. A short commute is a big win for locals fed up with the city’s worsening traffic.

List your home in the spring for the fastest sale

HomeLight’s data shows that homes sold in Reno in June were on the market 11 days less than the annual average. Since it generally takes about three months for homes to sell, we recommend listing your home in March to increase your odds of a quick sale. If selling your home for the highest price possible is your main concern, then you’ll want to list a month later in April so you can capitalize on the city’s peak sale month in July, when homes fetch 6.74% more than the yearly average.

Partner with a top real estate agent who moves Reno homes like no other

If you want to secure a fast sale, you need to partner with a top real estate agent who intimately understands Reno’s market conditions, history, and current buyer pool. On average, Reno’s top real estate agents sell homes 112 days faster than the average agent, winning their clients 9.4% more on their home sale.

Start your agent search with HomeLight’s Agent Finder. We’ll match you with the top three agents in your area based on transaction stats like average days on market, list-to-sale price, and average client reviews.

Once you hire the best agent for your needs, they’ll spearhead a customized listing strategy, complete with a pre-listing home improvement list, a competitive listing price, and a stellar marketing plan.

Between guidance from your agent and our hot selling tips, you’ll sell your Reno home in no time.

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