How to Sell Your House Fast in Worcester, MA: Capitalize on the City’s Upswing

Need to sell your house fast in Worcester — known belovedly as “Woosta” if you’re from the state? Whether you own a contemporary colonial, Cape Cod, historical triple-decker, or other classic New England house, your Massachusetts property should be in high demand and sell for a tidy sum if you play your cards right.

In April 2021, the median sale prices for single-family homes in the Greater Worcester area sailed to $385,000, a remarkable 18.5% annual increase, according to data from the Realtor Association of Central Massachusetts. Worcester entices homebuyers and investors from all over by offering the intimacy of a small university town with the conveniences of a big city, such as a well-developed public bus system and train station.

To overcome any roadblocks and appeal to Woosta house hunters, follow these 5 tips developed with the expertise of Joshua Lioce, a top-rated real estate agent with 21 years of experience in Worcester County. Before you know it, you’ll be able to escape Northern winters or finally make your move to Southborough with money in the bank.

1. Market your Worcester house as a hot investment property

For the past few years, Worcester has been on an upswing in more ways than one. It boasts the state’s second-fastest-growing economy and is projecting a population growth of 200,000 by the year 2030. This boom in the economy stems from 40% of its jobs related to educational and medical fields attracting a younger, educated workforce.

Sports, pizza, and universities

The community now rallies around local minor league sports with the introduction of the Railers ice hockey team in 2016, as well as the development of a brand-new baseball stadium that opened in 2021 (go Woosox!). Worcester has also earned recognition for its robust dining scene, including being named the No. 1 spot in the nation for pizza. In addition, 36,000 people, or nearly 28% of the city’s 182,000 residents, are students getting an education at one of the eight local colleges and universities.

Working with Worcester investors

The promise the city has shown in offering quality education and plenty of entertainment options translates as heightened interest from real estate investors. These real estate buyers want to claim their slice of Woosta. Neighborhoods around the UMass Medical School, as well as the Belmont Hill neighborhood, are particularly popular with investors, according to an article by the Worcester Telegram.

The nice aspect of working with an investor is their ability to offer heavy amounts of cash upfront, and in some cases, give you a full cash offer. This can cut weeks off your closing timeline when you’re looking to sell fast.

Why we recommend Simple Sale

If you aren’t sure how to connect with cash buyers around Worcester, we’d recommend our Simple Sale platform, which has nationwide coverage. Through Simple Sale, HomeLight provides you with an all-cash offer for your home. You can skip the repairs, prep work, and open houses and go straight to receiving an offer.

Going in, you should know that cash buyers tend to offer a lower price than buyers on the open market. However, when you eliminate home prep costs in Massachusetts — such as fixing the roof or updating the bathrooms, plus agent fees of 5%-6%, you may end up with a similar amount of money from a Worcester cash buyer as you do with a traditional listing process.

2. Work with a top-rated Worcester agent

Not interested in working with an investor? Alternatively, you can partner with a top real estate agent in Worcester with a history of lightning-quick sales. Per HomeLight’s analytics, top agents in Worcester sell 1.8 times more properties, save their sellers $14,415 more, and move homes 1.8 times faster than average agents — saving them 67.4 days on the market.

According to Lioce, 30% to 40% of the agents in Worcester offer a wide range of marketing services including professional photography, 3D walkthroughs, virtual plans, and dollhouse photography to attract buyers. The right agent will develop a robust and comprehensive marketing strategy leading to maximum profit for their clients, Lioce adds. An agent who truly knows the area will be able to help you highlight location aspects as well, such as close proximity to Lake Quinsigamond, area amenities like Blackstone River Bikeway, and commuter routes.

3. Address structural issues in older Worcester homes

Lioce says a majority of the housing stock in Worcester is about 50 to 60 years old, with colonial and ranch-style architecture. Older houses tend to have structural problems that need attention, like replacing older columns with permanent lally columns in the basement, fixing seepage in cracked foundation walls, roof repairs, or addressing moisture retention. Check out a local service provider if you need any of these issues looked at. In addition, Lioce recommends the following:

Check for elevated levels of radon

According to Lioce, one in every three to four houses in Worcester will have an elevated level of radon gas, which needs to be mitigated. Fixing this is quick and not too invasive. However, it can cost you anywhere between $1,000 and $1,500. Here’s a local radon mitigation service provider in your area to help you get started.

Get a pest inspection

New England’s beautiful weather can bring quite a few uninvited pests, some of which can cause structural damage. To prevent this, hire a pest inspector and get a warranty on your home to avoid significant issues.

Inspect for mold in the attic and basement

Cold and damp New England winters can cause mold build-up in poorly ventilated spaces, like the attic and the basement. Houses with dense tree coverage can cause mold in the attic, as well. Hire a professional to check for mold and take steps to eliminate the issue. As a seller, you can either choose to fix these issues before listing or offer a seller credit based on the inspection findings.

Know your property lines

In addition to a home inspection, it’s good to know your property lines to make sure there are no encroachment issues. You can easily get that information from the city using the assessors’ data or work with a company like New England Land Survey (based in Worcester) if you prefer to obtain a plot plan from a surveyor.

4. Boost the curb appeal of your Worcester home

According to Lioce,

“Buyers love to see a house with lots of yard space, so make sure your yard is well-landscaped with trimmed bushes, properly edged walkways, and mulch-beds.”

In addition, create an entryway focal point with a freshly painted front door and power-washed exteriors. If you have a classic colonial home with a front porch or a sunroom, consider updating it with Nantucket Beadboard for a characteristic New England charm.

Worcester buyers also love a house with a deck, so make sure they like what they see by staining and restoring your original hardwood. If it’s in rough shape, you could replace it with a material like Timbertech’s composite decking for durability (an option that may be cheaper so long as lumber prices are elevated).

5. Know local Worcester laws that could impact your sale

Before you put your house in Worcester on the market, it’s recommended to get familiar with any regulations around real estate in the area. For example, local laws require that you certify your home’s Title 5 Septic System before you sell your Worcester home.

This law applies to houses with septic systems not connected to the public sewer system. A septic system corresponds to the number of bedrooms in a house designed to handle the waste generated by those bedrooms. So, if a house with three bedrooms and a spare room is marketed as a fourth bedroom, this misrepresentation can lead to legal litigation between the buyer and the city.

In addition, your Worcester home must comply with the state’s smoke and carbon monoxide detection laws from a safety and liability standpoint. This law requires you to provide your new buyer with working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Your local fire department will inspect and issue a compliance certificate before closing, which is valid for two months. You can find these smoke detectors at your local hardware store.

Worcester sells itself — your house should be in demand!

Worcester has emerged as one of the hottest cities west of Boston to own or rent, live independently, or raise a family. Housing prices are approachable for a wide buyer set (compared to Boston, where houses are going for more like $760,000 on average). Plus, quality education, diverse culture, and an array of dining and entertainment options give residents of all walks of life a reason to live there — and your home could be their next landing pad. To find a buyer fast, work with a top-selling agent in Worcester who knows the city as well as you, or request a cash offer from a local investor while inventory remains low.

Header Image Source: (Sean Pavone / ShutterStock)