How to Sell Your House Fast in the North Dallas Suburb of McKinney

Whether you’re moving to Houston for its hour-away beach proximity or leaving downtown for a bigger property in the master-planned community of Craig Ranch, you’ve emphatically decided: I need to sell my house fast in McKinney, Texas!

Be it a brick-front ranch style or a 1920s gem that needs some TLC in the heart of historic McKinney, homes here get attention. Local buyers have flooded into the north Dallas suburb for its abundance of jobs, affordable family-friendly lifestyle, vast expanses of green space, and storybook-like neighborhoods.

“Small town charm, with all the amenities of a big city — that’s what people love about McKinney,” shares top McKinney real estate agent Seychelle Van Poole. Home prices have recently skyrocketed in lockstep with increased demand, says Van Poole, with McKinney home prices up 17.1% compared to last year to a median value of $441,000.

To capitalize on the Dallas area’s housing boom and sell faster than average, follow these tips to make your house irresistible with a backyard spruce up, modern color palette, and clutter-free spaces as pristine as the town of McKinney itself.

1. First, try reaching out to a cash buyer in McKinney

Let’s say you need extra cash to help a family member or are relocating for a job in San Antonio that requires an immediate start date. Even though the real estate market in McKinney is strong, you’d like to move even quicker than a traditional sale would allow.

Perhaps you don’t have money for repairs or the idea of waiting an average 50 days for a buyer to close on a mortgage in today’s market isn’t in the cards.

Rather than go straight to putting out the for-sale sign, determine if your house could be a great match for a cash buyer.

McKinney homes that need significant work could be attractive to a house flipper. Due to the steep property taxes in Collin County, cash flow in McKinney isn’t as ideal for rental investors. However, demand for single family rentals is on the rise nationwide and those buyers who plan to rent out a McKinney home for a minimum of five to 10 years may be interested in your property.

Sell Your House Fast in McKinney With a Cash Offer

HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform provides all-cash offers for McKinney homes in almost any condition. Request a cash offer and sell in as little as 10 days.

Request Cash Offer

Homes with easy access to 380, Sam Rayburn Tollway, or Dallas North Tollway may be excellent candidates for a cash buyer for their rentability to commuters. If you’re interested in selling your McKinney house fast for cash, try our Simple Sale platform.

Our Simple Sale platform provides full cash offers for homes in almost any condition all over the country, including the state of Texas. Simply tell us a little information about your McKinney home, such as whether it’s a single-family or condo, and if it needs some or a lot of work. You’ll receive a no-obligation cash offer in 48 hours with the ability to close in as little as 10 days.

2. Not interested in a cash offer? Find a great McKinney real estate agent

A direct cash sale isn’t for everyone. In fact, 90% of today’s sellers choose to list with a real estate agent. But we suggest making sure you find a top McKinney real estate agent who knows everything from the area’s greasy spoons to chef-quality restaurants and which types of buyers are likely to be looking in Stone Bridge Ranch versus Hardin Lake.

This type of local knowledge translates as a powerful marketing strategy for your home and fast sale. Our transaction data for the McKinney area shows that top McKinney real estate agents can sell your home 30 days faster than the average agent and earn sellers 101% on their asking price on average.

When searching for that perfect real estate agent, HomeLight can help. Just share your property details with us and we’ll crunch agent performance data to match you with the three best real estate agents for your home sale.

From there, we recommend that you interview your top candidates and choose the agent whose experience and professionalism you most trust.

3. Focus on the big Texas outdoors

Outdoor living is big in McKinney, so focus on enhancing your backyard to attract buyers for a quick sale.

A majority of McKinney homes are built for al fresco entertaining, with expansive backyards, swimming pools, and outdoor kitchens. Van Poole shares that many residents are installing artificial turf as it is low maintenance and can withstand the Texas sun. Additionally, she says, many McKinney homes were developed over 20 years ago so have towering mature trees — including picturesque live oaks — offering protection from the Texas heat.

With all that in mind she says, “set up your backyard as a retreat” to generate buyer interest. Add bright outdoor rugs, plush cushions, and lighting options such as lanterns and twinkle lights. 

According to Glenda Miller, a McKinney-based interior designer who specializes in home staging and heads up Vivian Avenue, “new potted plants and fresh flowers also provide a huge bang for your buck.”

Miller advises sellers to follow these additional tips to instantly transform their outdoor space:

• Refresh throw pillows for bold pops of color.
• Get rid of old patio furnishings and purchase an inexpensive new set for a fresh look.
• Clear all debris from flower beds.
• Re-mulch flower beds with a dark color to lend contrast. 

4. Modernize your McKinney home with quick updates

While many McKinney homes are a sturdy stone or brick, most were built in the early 2000s or earlier, says Van Poole. As a result, a majority of McKinney area houses are starting to show signs of age.

According to Miller, some easy updates can go a long way. “Color is the biggest stumbling block for people,” she says. Ultimately, “you will get a higher offer on your home with a more modern palette.”

Follow these tips to bring your McKinney home up to date without a complete remodel:

• Paint walls a crisp white or soft taupe. Many McKinney homes sport more dated earth tones, which won’t appeal to buyers, Van Poole says.
• Do away with the busy wallpaper. But don’t eliminate all color – use jewel toned throw pillows or a vibrant throw for just enough liveliness.
• Give dark wood cabinets a facelift. Although the dark wood style of cabinetry was de rigueur 25 years ago, today’s homebuyers want a crisp fresh look. Paint kitchen and bathroom cabinets white for a cosmetic transformation.
• Remove old carpeting and install hard surface flooring. Go with a wood-imitation luxury vinyl plank that will stand up to the Dallas area’s humid weather.
• Let the Texas sunshine flood your living spaces. Prior to a buyer’s arrival, open all curtains. Move furniture and trim foliage that obstructs windows. Turn on lights for showings. Add table and floor lamps to rooms without enough overhead lighting.

Above all, when prepping your home for a speedy sale think about lifestyle, say Van Poole.  “Create definitions and purpose for each room,” she says.  “A kids’ room should be just that,” as should the home office, which has become one of the most important spaces given the unprecedented rise in working from home.

5. Deep clean and clear away clutter from your McKinney home

According to Van Poole, “youth sports are huge” in McKinney. So sporting equipment and trophies tend to accrue and fill garages and closets. You’ll need to remove this type of clutter, however, if you hope to sell your McKinney home fast.

Determine what you plan to bring with you to the next home and clear the rest away in containers that you can organize in closets, underneath beds, or if necessary, in a separate storage unit. Take down family photos and remove personal trinkets desks and shelves. Put mementos in a safe spot for when you move.

As for the rest of the clutter? “Get rid of things you don’t need otherwise,” advises Miller. “Do you want to pay people to move things you don’t need? This is a great opportunity to simplify and scale down.”

When it comes to purging old clothes, furnishings, and sporting goods, remember many Texans have struggled throughout the pandemic and would appreciate your donations. 

6. Maximize curb appeal with these exterior upgrades

Most McKinney homes have a leg up on curb appeal since they have front entry driveways which foster a sense of community.  “It is an ideal layout, because you know who is coming and going,” Von Poole comments.

But you can take your curb appeal to the next level with the following tips:

• Amp up outdoor lighting: Evenings provide some relief from the Texas heat and the opportunity to be outdoors. Switch old light bulbs, clear away cobwebs, and change outdated exterior light fixtures. Miller also recommends purchasing inexpensive solar lights to accent outdoor areas.
• Clean up the driveway: Your driveway should be devoid of weeds and grease stains. To make the driveway shine, Miller suggests power washing it as an “inexpensive investment.” The garage should be somewhat organized to accent its storage potential and free of dirt, grime, and leaves.
• Tend to landscaping: Severe North Texas weather often wreaks havoc on your outdoor oasis, so clear any clutter, remove debris, and hire someone to trim mature trees if it’s been a few years since you maintained them.

Ready to sell your McKinney home fast?

With jobs galore, a strong community spirit, and stellar schools, McKinney is one of the fastest growing towns in the country. Selling a McKinney home is not difficult given the area’s appeal, but by following these tips you can increase your chances of a fast sale. Whether you speed up the process by working with a cash buyer in McKinney or sell on the open market with a great McKinney real estate agent by your side, your move to Houston or purchase of a trade-up home in the neighborhood across town is within your reach.

Header Image Source (re-sized): (Rick Ray / Flickr via Creative Commons Legal Code)