Selling a house fast is always better than slowly, even more so if you’re under time pressure for whatever reason. The longer the home is on the market, the higher the chances of leaving money on the table.
The whole process of selling it, and doing it fast, doesn’t have to be more stressful than it already is. So, we prepared this comprehensive guide on accelerating the sale of your house to help you achieve that goal as fast as possible. All you need to do is read on, discover how, and use what you learn.
Price It to Sell Quickly
Consider the price points buyers search for. For instance, if you want to sell a house in Riverside County and list it for $599,000, all the buyers looking for a home below $600,000 will see your offer. However, if you set a price for only $1,000 more, you’ll end up missing them all out.
Competitively pricing a house is vital for selling it faster. If you overprice it, it will very likely stay longer on the market, and you will probably sell it for less in the end, but it would take longer.
A skilled real estate agent can prove valuable for this step as they will complete a comparative market analysis (CMA) in your area and set a realistic price. You could even price your home a little lower to attract more interest.
Choose a Selling Strategy
Pick the selling strategy that works best for you. If you’re confident in your marketing and negotiating skills, you can sell FSBO (for sale by owner). However, it may not provide the fastest sale nor the highest price.
Hiring a skilled real estate agent proves valuable in many cases, as they know how to sell a house fast in your area.
However, if you want to avoid the preparation required for selling your home quickly, you can try selling to an investor or developer. You can also sell it at an auction, but you will likely leave some money on the table.
Whatever you choose, avoid switching from one strategy to another because prospective buyers may be turned off by shifting circumstances.
Pick the Right Time for Sale
According to Zillow, May was the best month for selling a house until 2019. Then, homes listed in March sold the fastest, at least before the pandemic. 2020 was irregular, and it remains to see how the real estate market will develop further.
Anyway, spring is generally the best time of the year to list your house for sale, but keep in mind that peak selling time varies based on your local market, so it’s best to familiarize yourself with it or hire a real estate agent.
Declutter and Clean
Nothing rejects potential buyers like a dirty house. When the house is on the market, it should be neat and clean regardless of the time of the day. If you don’t have time or will to do it yourself, hire a professional. Otherwise, make your home’s interior appeal to as many potential buyers as possible by following these tips:
- Place belongings and large furnishings making rooms look small or crowded into a storage unit.
- Remove your memorabilia, family photos, political and religious items, your children’s artwork and toys, and everything else that marks the house as your territory rather than neutral. The picture is best painted on a blank canvas, and the same goes for the house. Neutralizing a home is the best way to help potential buyers picture themselves in it.
- Clean and organize the closets. Leave enough space to make an impression that the house has lots of storage. Buyers will peek into closets, pantries, and storage areas as they look for storage space.
- Deep clean every room and pay attention to details, such as inside cabinets and appliances.
Focus on Quick and Simple Repairs
If you don’t have time for an extensive makeover, focus on fast repairs that reject the potential buyers if left unaddressed. Go through your house and fix simple things, such as loose tiles, leaky faucets, doorknobs and handles, and carpet stains. You could also paint your interior in neutral colors depending on how much time and money you can invest.
Let the Natural Light In
The best way to present your house is to let the natural light in, as people want to see everything clearly. Open the curtains, shades, and blinds, and turn the lights on in rooms lacking natural light. Even better, place lamps or other light sources strategically to create an inviting atmosphere.
Boost Your Home’s Curb Appeal
Curb appeal is essential as buyers will see it before everything else and form a first impression. Trim bushes and trees, plant some flowers and remove dead leaves from existing ones. Clearing out spiders’ webs and washing walkways will also help. Painting a front door and adding a new house number can also make a huge difference.
Consider Professional Real Estate Photos
Snapping a few photos of your home on your phone may seem faster, but low-quality listing pictures may make you wait longer for your house to sell. People generally prefer quality photos when buying anything, and homes especially.
Professional real estate photos cost a few hundred dollars, but it’s worth the cost if it helps your home sell quicker. Real estate agents might include professional photos in their service.
Ensure your house has plenty of natural light if possible. That will allow for some high-quality photos.
Write an Inviting Listing Description
Your listing should be warm, descriptive, and welcoming and tell a story about your home in the best light. Emphasize your house’s finest features and include everything that makes your area favorable, such as parks, schools, restaurants, and public transportation.
Be Flexible with Showings
It’s essential to be as flexible as possible with showing requests if you need to sell your house fast. Nobody can buy your or any home if they can’t see it, and if you’re not willing to adapt to your buyers’ timetables, your house will stay on the market for an extended period.
Hold a Weekend Open House
The easiest way to gather multiple buyers at your home is to hold a weekend open house. Ensure your house is all set, offer some treats, prepare flyers, and you’re good to go.
Private Showings
Buyers who ask for a private showing may have attended your open house and are coming back to check it thoroughly, or they have never seen it before. Whatever the case, being flexible and keeping your home tour-ready around the clock will help sell it faster.
Or Demand an All-Cash Offer
When you sell for cash, you typically go straight to requesting a cash offer, bypassing staging your house to impress, agent fees, and open houses. The interested buyer determines how much they want to pay, usually based on a quick home tour or photos.
Then, you check their terms and price and choose to accept it or not. Some cash buyers will demand an inspection and bargain with you over repairs, while others will buy it as is. Moreover, you’ll have to consider possible complications such as HOA (homeowner association) requirements, but typically, you can close in less than two weeks.
Keep in mind that cash buyers have paid 11% less on average than a buyer getting a mortgage over the past 40 years. But, they also offer control over the outcome, simplicity, and speed.
Choose the Strategy That Fits You
Now you know what to do to sell your home faster. But, it’s crucial to choose the strategy that works for you.
Apart from essentials like cleaning and enhancing your home’s interior and exterior, how you choose to price it will significantly influence its time to sell. Picking a selling strategy that suits you is also vital. If you don’t feel confident in your skills, allowing a real estate agent to do the job for you will help accelerate the whole process.
Picking the right time to sell will also make a huge difference. That’s why you need to know your local market. Professional real estate photos and inviting descriptions will help too. However, if you want to skip all the details, you can request an all-cash offer. Whatever you choose to do, good luck with your sale!
