How to Increase the Value of Your Land Before Selling

Most landowners consider the option to sell but do not know how to increase the value of their land before doing so. Unoccupied land will not get many inquiries unless it gets properly evaluated and positioned. Making the right steps prior to the sale will increase buyers' interest and value.

Whether it is necessary to sell quickly or obtain better pricing, preparing your property prior to selling is crucial.

Understand the True Market Position of Your Land

The very first thing you need to do to add value to your piece of land is to understand where exactly it stands in the current market. There are various factors that define the value of land such as location, zoning, current demands, potential and other. Reviewing the sale of comparable properties can give you an idea of the land's true value, helping avoid both underpricing and overpricing.

This concept was discussed in “What Is the True Market Value of Your Land.”

Identify the Best Use of Your Land

Finding the best and highest use of your land can dramatically help increase its value. There are certain possibilities regarding usage of the parcel and they depend on your location and the current zoning of land. While in one area it makes sense to develop land for residences, in another region it can be more advantageous to preserve the land and use it agriculturally.

In California and Texas, renewable energy such as solar farms, battery storage facilities, and wind farms become increasingly popular. In this case, the ability to use the property for generating energy can help you attract a new category of buyers. Read more in “How to Determine the Best Use of Your Land Before Selling”

Improve Legal Access and Documentation

Access to the land is one of the things that are being taken into account by the buyer. Lack of access may affect the usability and potential of your property and can become an obstacle in further developing or reselling it. Properly documenting and registering your property may increase the value of land.

Additionally, proper documentation should be made prior to selling as it will make the transaction go faster, preventing any problems. If the property is inherited or sold between relatives, then making sure there is no problem with probate is necessary.

Review Zoning and Explore Potential

Zoning laws play an important part in defining the value of land. They indicate which usage is allowed on the particular parcel of land, which will determine the type of buyers it will attract. Understanding current zoning of land and exploring the possibility of changes in the future can be helpful for positioning the property.

For example, if there is a chance that your parcel will be rezoned for residential developments in the nearest future, it is necessary to indicate this and show its potential to buyers. This concept is explained in more detail in “How Zoning Laws Affect Land Value in the USA.”

Highlight Location and Infrastructure Advantages

Another factor that affects the value of land is its location. It is highly beneficial to have access to highways or live close to a growing city or a development corridor, as this will increase interest towards your land. Also, the proximity to such important utilities as water or electricity can play an important role in determining the value.

Buyers pay close attention to this information when evaluating the land and considering buying it. The importance of these factors in buying and selling land is explained in “When Buying Land What Do I Need to Know."

Improve Presentation and Accessibility

Although unlike with homes, you cannot stage land, there are a few steps you can undertake to make it look good. It is advisable to keep it tidy, mark boundaries and make sure buyers have access when viewing the land. This will help buyers see how useful the property is and whether it suits their purpose.

Choose Selling Strategy Based on Your Goal

Another aspect of increasing value is taking the right selling strategy. Depending on your objective, you can decide how you want to proceed with the selling process. For some people ease of transaction and clarity of closing costs are the priority, whereas for others it is maximizing the value.

This point is covered in more detail in “Cash Offer vs Listing What Should Landowners Choose."

Avoiding Mistakes that Reduce Land's Value

There are certain mistakes that can negatively affect the value of your property. Such mistakes include not doing research when coming up with a price, paying attention to the zoning of the land, forgetting to verify legal access to the land, and missing important documentation.

These pitfalls are highlighted and discussed in “Top Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Vacant Land."

How OffersTree Helps Landowners

OffersTree offers the nationwide marketplace for buyers and landowners interested in buying or selling their parcels of land. The platform provides sellers the structured visibility of the market demands, allowing them to understand their options and evaluate land properly.

Depending on land characteristics and its use, landowners can make the best out of the situation.