10 Ways to Sell Your Land Faster in Delaware

As a state with over 1.6 million total acres dedicated to farmland alone according to IBIS World research, selling off Delaware property or vacant land can pose notable challenges without the right marketing strategies targeting qualified buyers. While broader real estate may turn over rapidly in Delaware’s hot housing market, non-residential land parcels often languish for months or years before sales materialize. However by taking proactive, multi-channel approaches to showcase land assets to ideal purchasers locally and through specialized property platforms, sellers can expedite deal closure dramatically. 

This piece offers 10 techniques based on the latest digital land marketing innovations along with direct local developer outreach and strategic pricing adjustments helping Delaware land owners successfully offload properties in shorter timeframes. From drumming up buyer competition to conveying sales motivations clearly, Delaware land sellers learn moves accelerating the sales process.

Tips to Sell Your Land Quickly in Delaware

1. Price Competitively

This first step is obvious yet commonly ignored - fail to price competitively and get ready for months more waiting.

Per the National Association of Realtors, Delaware's average per acre price comes to $11,667. However, values fluctuate substantially between northern and southern counties - New Castle at $58,482 per acre versus Kent at $6,345 per acre.

Research recent sales of comparable vacant land nearby to determine fair market value. Local assessor site databases can provide this data. If overpriced, your listing gets ignored until excessive price drops. Motivated sellers price appropriately from day one realizing today's buyers have endless equivalent options in their budget.

2. Highlight Accessibility

Does your land offer road frontage access orpotential to create driveway access? Easy accessibility exponentially expands target buyer pools beyond abutting landowners alone.

Clearly showcase parcel access and proximity to maintained roads in the listing photos and description. Buyers want to instantly recognize paths to enter the property without complicated surveys or construction. If landlocked, also proactively contact neighbors to negotiate shared easements.

3. Play Up Potential

Keep the listing description future-focused on everything buyers could develop on the site. Paint the vision of their dream home built, successful business launched or rental income earned thanks to your land's prime location and untapped potential.

Emphasize key attributes like previously obtained permits, no zoning restrictions and utility availability. The more shovel-ready the site appears, the faster buyers jump. Reduce assumed obstacles to ownership in their mind.

4. Boost Curb Appeal

While vacant, treat land almost as you would a home for sale. Always keep the parcel neatly mowed, trimmed along road frontage and perimeter lines. Install eye catching signage with listing details too.

Buyers want to instantly recognize exact acreage boundaries when viewing in person. Define the area with basic cleanup. An ad saying "heavily wooded 3 acres" means nothing if arriving onsite buyers see... heavily wooded land indistinguishable from surrounding forest. Make your parcel stand out!

5. Market Online Aggregators

Listings uploaded solely to MLS rely on luck of agent exposure hoping someone in their network eventually refers an interested buyer. This passive approach is slow. 80%+ of buyers now start property searches online. Target them directly.

Pay one-time listing fees to post on sites indexing millions of motivated buyers daily like LandsOfAmerica, LandWatch and LandAndFarm. Pay small additional monthly fees to keep listings active until sold. Watch new inquiries roll in thanks to mass site traffic.

6. Advertise Locally

In addition to national land listing platforms, also run print ads in local Delaware newspapers and regional agriculture industry trade publications. Highlight the listings via social posts and flyers distributed to nearby farmer co-ops as well.

Local networking and ads target potential buyers already familiar with the area and its land values. They require less education on why your acreage presents a smart investment, speeding sales.

7. Offer Owner Financing

To exponentially expand buyer options, offer financing terms at competitive rates. This allows those currently unable to obtain mortgages or loans still purchase the land now.

Banks usually won't lend to buyers without existing equity or strong credit. By owner financing with 10-20% down at 6-8% interest over 5-10 years, receive steady income while buyers slowly pay off the remaining mortgage owed to you. This win-win scenario opens many new transaction options.

8. Consider Land Fractionation

If struggling selling a 20 acre site, separate into two 10 acre parcels or five 4 acre lots. The smaller sizes automatically receive higher demand from buyer groups like homeowners wanting just enough acreage for mini-farms or recreational vehicles.  Offering both combined and individual sale options expands possibilities.

Splits also enable targeted marketing to different audiences. For example, advertise the full 20 acres to developer investors but then run separate ads highlighting the two 10 acre plots to individual families. Cast wider outreach nets!

9. Promote Fast Closing

Clearly communicate motivated seller status in the listing highlighting flexibility to close transactions fast on buyer's ideal timeline. Disorganized owners slowly retrieving paperwork while delaying closings at every step frustrate buyers. They move on to easier options.

Prepare necessary property records like GIS maps, plot surveys, titles, permits etc in advance. Then directly state in ads the ability to close within buyer's required 30, 45 or 60 day window upon accepted offer. Follow through quickly sealing the deals.

10. Consider Land Buyers Too

If still struggling to find a retail buyer working the steps above, contact local land investment companies like Land Boss to discuss a direct sale. These experienced buyers purchase sites nationwide for cash, as-is, handling all title and closing logistics for sellers.

Though buying at wholesale pricing, investors reduce ownership burdens landowners struggle handling themselves - from extensive marketing to convoluted paperwork and financing. Land quickly converts to cash for urgent financial needs or reinvesting into new ventures.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, selling your land faster in Delaware requires a combination of strategic pricing, effective marketing, and a willingness to explore various selling options. By following these 10 tips, you can increase your chances of finding the right buyer and closing the deal in a timely manner. Whether you choose to work with a local real estate agent, offer financing options, or sell to a land buying company like Land Boss, the key is to stay proactive, transparent, and adaptable throughout the process. With the right approach and mindset, you can successfully sell your Delaware land and move forward with your goals.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What paperwork do I need ready to sell land fast in Delaware?

To accelerate Delaware land sales, certain key documentation should be prepared in advance. This includes your recorded property deed showing current legal ownership, updated survey plots displaying exact acreage boundaries, county tax assessment information, and title insurance policy if obtained.

Gathering associated permits, disclosures, mineral/water rights reports also signals a motivated, organized seller to serious buyers willing to close promptly. Having these documents readily available reduces delays when potential buyers inquire.

What costs might I pay selling land as the property owner?

Common expenses Delaware land sellers incur when sale completing include: survey charges if buyers request updated acreage boundary markings, pro-rated shares of annual property taxes, title transfers fees, legal fees drafting any sales agreements, and potentially commission fees up to 10% of sale price for those enlisting a real estate agent's buyer representation.

What are ways to estimate land value in Delaware besides comparable sales?

If struggling to appraise land value through evaluating previous nearby vacant land that sold recently in Delaware, also consider these three methods: hire an independent appraiser to assess property, check county tax assessments estimating current site worth to benchmark asking prices, and research Farm Credit East’s farmland value reports indexing values regionally.

Should I expect to receive full asking price for my land?

Rarely do asking prices for vacant land directly equal eventual sales prices. Expect buyers to negotiate costs down anywhere from 10-25%+ from original listings. If urgently needing to sell land quickly in Delaware with limited wait times, set reasonable asking prices per market comps.

Also consider friendly buyer incentives like owner financing terms over 5-10 years which grants flexibility facilitating deals at potentially 10-20% below asking prices - but adds guaranteed buyer source with payments continuing for years.

What pros and cons come with owner financing land sales?

Seller benefits include enabling sales prices potentially a bit higher than immediate cash offers from investors, steady future income stream as buyers pay towards land mortgages, and buying back land still if buyers default on payments later. Drawbacks however include assuming default risks, managing ongoing legal collection efforts, and receiving less net proceeds than a full cash price would provide now.

‍