Selling a Lakeland house near power lines is no easy feat. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation and fear associated with owning such a house. Understanding how to sell a house near power lines is critical for successful sale.
In this blog we will show you that you can sell a Lakeland Area house regardless of its proximity to power lines or electrical towers. We’ll first answer some common questions you or your buyers may have. Then we’ll share some proven tips that are guaranteed to help you sell your home.
At the end we’ll share a bonus tip to help you sell your house even if it’s in a poor condition or if you need a super-fast sale.
What exactly are power lines and what type of energy do they radiate?
Power lines also known as high voltage transmission lines (HVTL) carry electric energy from a generating site such as a hydroelectric or nuclear plant to an electrical substation. The transfer of electricity through these lines create electromagnetic fields commonly referred as EMFs.
EMFs are invisible areas of energy produced by electricity. There are two types of energy fields. The first one known as an electric field is produced by the pressure used to move electricity through wires or an electrical device (voltage). This energy field is produced continuously whether the electrical device is turned on or off.
The second field, a magnetic field is produced by the flow of electrical current through electrical wires. This energy field is only produced when an electrical device is turned on.
Since there is a constant flow of electricity, power lines are continuously producing both electric and magnetic energy.
Are power lines dangerous?
There have been many studies to determine whether magnetic fields can cause health issues. The conclusion is that electrical appliances and devices that emit extremely low frequency (ELF) are not known to cause health risks.
According to The National Cancer Institute, “Power lines produce low-to mid-frequency magnetic fields (EMFs). These types of EMFs are […] not known to damage DNA or cells directly”.
For more information on the health effects of power lines check out this article, “Do High Voltage Power Lines Cause Cancer?”, published by Forbes.com.
How much do power lines affect the value of a Lakeland, Florida house?
It is difficult to measure the effect that power lines can have on the value of a house. The overall impact depends on many factors including:
- The proximity to the voltage transmission line and towers
- The distance of the property to the nearest tower
- Market Conditions
- Neighborhood Amenities
- Personal Preference
It is generally agreed that homes at distances of less than 200 feet from power lines suffer a negative impact of up to 10% of the sales price relative to comparable houses that are located further than 200 feet. (Source: power Lines and property values revisited)
This reduction in value is attributed to the perceived health risks of EMFs, visibility of power lines and noise. Market conditions play a critical role in the sales price and days on the market. Generally, the negative effect of power lines are much more evident when real estate is in a down market and diminish considerably when there is high demand for real estate.
What’s a seller to do when selling a Lakeland house near power lines?
There are several proactive steps you can take to sell a house near power lines. The most important step is to maintain a positive attitude about the sale of your house. There are a lot of people who won’t consider buying your property regardless of how much money they could save. But don’t forget that even though power lines have an impact on many buyers, there will be those that won’t mind.
Second, price your home realistically. Compare your house to other homes similar in size, style and age, then discount the price of your house based on its proximity and view of the power lines and towers.
A local real estate agent can help you arrive at a salable asking price.
Ask your agent to prepare a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) for your house. Virtually every agent will prepare a CMA free of charge.
A CMA report will recommend a listing price based on comparable homes that are currently on the market, comparable homes that did not sell and comparable houses that have sold in the neighborhood within the last six months.
Next, face the buyer’s health concerns head on. Get the local power company to come out and give you EMF reading and include the results in your property information sheet and seller disclosure form.
Look at your house from a buyer’s perspective. Play devil’s advocate and look for all the issues that may turn off a buyer. Then get to work cleaning, painting, repairing and decluttering your house.
The last thing you want is that in addition to power lines your buyer finds other problems with your house. Make your house look great so your buyers fall in love with your home.
Pay close attention to the exterior of your house and use landscaping to create a beautiful curb appeal and an inviting rear yard. This way you’ll shift your buyers focus away from the power lines to your house.
Lastly, focus on the benefits. If your home is next to a right-of-way talk up the fact that you enjoy a green area which provides you with an open view, a greater distance from your neighbors and added privacy.
I have followed all the tips on how to sell a Lakeland house near power lines and still can’t find a buyer.
If you have tried everything to sell your Lakeland home and can’t find a buyer, consider selling your house to a “We Buy Houses For Cash Companies”.
Cash buyers are accustomed to buying homes regardless of their location or condition.
Another advantage is that they do not rely on bank financing so you’ll avoid the headaches of bank appraisals, lengthy home inspections and mortgage approvals.
If you want to learn more about selling a house for top-dollar, call Lakeland Home Buyers at 863-372-8937 and schedule a free no obligation appointment.
We’ll buy your Lakeland house as-is no matter its condition. Even if it is fire damaged, water damaged has open code violations or has suffered termite, foundation or roofing problems.
If you’re looking to sell your house quickly we are the perfect buyers. Sell your Lakeland, Florida house to us in just one day and close in as fast. This way you’ll eliminate the need to hire an agent, pay a hefty real estate commission and put up with the uncertainty of finding a buyer.
We’ll walk you through the entire sales process to make the sale of your house easy and headache free.
Count on us to understand your needs, provide solutions to your problems and deliver exceptional service.