If you’re an El Paso homeowner hoping to sell your home before sunset, you’re in luck. El Paso maintains a stable buyer pool thanks to its diverse economy supported by military, healthcare, government, and private industries.

Better yet, El Paso is brimming with “impulse buyers”: Buyers who routinely buy and sell or rent out properties. According to top El Paso real estate agent Silas Baca, these impulse buyers typically include military families working with short-ownership timelines due to routine relocations, as well as first-time homebuyers eager to start building equity.

Still, even with El Paso’s sunny seller-friendly housing market, you’ll face obstacles before locking down a fast home sale. Impulse buyers want move-in-ready homes, meaning you’ll need to whip your home into shape if you hope to inspire quick offers.

Not to worry, HomeLight is here to help. We researched the El Paso market, spoke with two local real estate experts, and analyzed housing transaction data to bring you nine essential tips to sell your El Paso home fast.

1. Market to El Paso’s largest buyer group: Military families

Fort Bliss, El Paso’s largest military base, employs more than 38,500 active duty military personnel who bring their 39,000 family members to the city. And that’s just on Fort Bliss. El Paso is also home to Biggs Army Airfield and the Beaumont Army Medical Center.

Since the military routinely relocates its members, newcomers seek move-in-ready homes that don’t require repairs or significant remodeling. Here’s how you can attract El Paso’s largest buyer group to your home:

• Tackle maintenance and repairs before you put your home on the market.
• Highlight the short commute to major military bases in the listing description.
• Work with a real estate agent with a Military Relocation Professional (MPR) certification who understands the processes and procedures military families go through during relocation.
• Immaculately clean and declutter your interior so buyers can envision living in your home.
• Flaunt your patriotism with an American flag in the front yard.

2. List your home in July to catch El Paso’s peak selling season

HomeLight’s data reveals that El Paso homes sold in July sell 11 days faster than the yearly average. Since it generally takes about three months from list to close, list your home in April to increase your odds of a fast sale.

Top agent Baca, who sells 84% more single-family homes than the average agent, also advises that sellers can snag a fast sale if they list in March or November during the military’s major rotations. During these months, thousands of military members and their families arrive in El Paso ready to purchase homes.

3. Tackle these common repairs before you list

Since the average home age in El Paso is 37 years, there’s a good chance your home could use some TLC. Conduct a pre-listing home inspection and complete necessary repairs before you list your home.

“I try to remind people that if you spend a thousand dollars on the front end, you’re going to make it up on the backend. Because now your property is more presentable and potentially will sell much quicker than house B down the street that still needs a lot of repairs,” Baca advises.

According to Baca, these are the most commonly needed repairs in El Paso:

• Water heater issues: Baca singled out water heaters as the household appliance most used, yet also most neglected. Water heaters typically last only eight to 12 years on average; replace yours if it’s malfunctioning or rusting inside.
• Warping shingles: In El Paso, shingle roofing is common and typically lasts 20 to 30 years on average. Replace warped and loose shingles for $1.20 to $4 per square foot, depending on the material.
• HVAC problems: Year-round heat and summer temperatures averaging above 90 degrees make air-conditioning essential in El Paso. Service your air conditioner for an average cost of $319.

4. Draw in El Paso’s millennial homebuyers with contemporary styling

El Paso’s median age is 33 years old (five years younger than the national median), creating a notably young buyer pool. Your best bet at attracting these millennials? Style your home to reflect the current interior design trends. Otherwise, young buyers will struggle to envision living in your home and hold back their offers.

“We went to a showing this weekend with a pretty young couple to a beautiful home. But the home was designed for that generation — that older family — so it didn’t work for the young couple. But if it was more modernized, then I think it would have probably incited them to buy,” shares Baca.

Here are our top tips for styling a millennial-approved interior:

• Remove accessories that date your interior, such as window valances, gathered bed skirts, and silk flower arrangements.
• Replace hardware and key lighting fixtures with more contemporary options.
• Create a welcoming entry with a narrow entry table, round mirror, and an assortment of tabletop accessories, such as staggered lanterns.
• Hire a professional stager who can swap out your existing furniture with contemporary pieces.
• Paint your walls a neutral shade such as Sherwin-Williams’ Agreeable Gray or Accessible Beige.

5. Replace your ’70s shag carpet with wood tile flooring

According to Baca, wood look tile flooring is the most popular replacement for carpet in El Paso. Wood look tiles create the classic appearance of wood flooring and stay cool on the hottest summer days. Expect to spend between $500 to $6,500 on materials per 1,000 square feet.

Here are some of our top ceramic tile picks:

• True Porcelain Pensacola Brown: An imitation of classic oak grain with a medium finish
• Della Torre Kinabalu: Rustic Kinabalu imitation available in natural and black finishes
• Bedrosians Charred Bark: Remicient of aged wood in charred bark, colonial white, and weathered board finishes

6. Replace old appliances with energy-efficient models

New, energy-efficient appliances score big points with El Paso buyers. Energy Star appliances require 10% to 50% less energy than traditional models and help lower household energy bills. For example, a refrigerator with an Energy Star rating will save buyers more than $200 during its lifetime. Not to mention, Energy Star dishwashers save on average 3,870 gallons of water throughout their use — significant savings given El Paso’s drought-prone climate.

Replace your old kitchen appliances with energy-efficient stainless steel models such as this KitchenAid 5-Door French Door Refrigerator or an LG smart refrigerator. According to our research, new kitchen appliances cost $4,229 on average and add $5,982 in value at resale.

7. Replace dying grass with an artificial lawn

El Paso only receives 10 inches of rain annually, which is scant compared to the national average of 38 inches of rainfall per year. If you’ve struggled to maintain your lawn, replace it with artificial grass.

Robert Castro, CEO and founder of BC Pro Contractors and Landscape with more than 28 years of experience, shares that today more El Paso homeowners ask for artificial grass than natural grass. Artificial grass is easy to maintain, and it creates that lush look all year-round.

Since artificial grass is relatively expensive — costing $5 to $25 per square foot on average —  Castro advises homeowners to install artificial grass the full length of the yard but only eight feet across. In the remaining space, he suggests adding a small cultured stone wall and a variety of dwarf flowering shrubs that thrive in El Paso’s climate like Lantanas, Green Cloud Sage, and Texas Sage.

8. Stage a fire pit perfect for stargazing

The City of El Paso has worked hard to recover clear, starry nights with the Dark Star ordinance. Help your buyers envision long nights stargazing in the backyard with a new firepit. According to HomeLight’s Top Agent Insights Report for Q2 2020, a fire pit costs $1,665 on average and recoups $1,394 when you go to sell — that’s 84% of costs recovered. In addition to adding value, fire pits boost your home’s marketability and inspire buyers to make faster offers.

Here are some of our favorite fire pit options:

• Hampton Bay Rectangular: A minimal concrete fire pit perfect for modern homes
• Oldcastle Hudson Stone: A traditional round fire pit composed of faux stones
• Endless Summer: A fire pit with a wicker base and granite counter, perfect for snacks and beverages

9. Partner up with an expert to sell your home fast

But don’t just take our word for it: Trust the numbers. According to agent transaction data, the top 3% of real estate agents in El Paso sell homes 54 days faster than the average agent.

Discover top agents in El Paso with HomeLight’s Agent Finder. Our system crunches transaction data from thousands of home sales to match you with the best three agents for your home sale. Once you meet your matches, interview the candidates, and choose the agent you most trust to guide you through the home sale journey.

Header Image Source: (Sean Pavone / ShutterStock)