Published January 8, 2024
How to Sell a House Fast
If you need to sell a house fast, consider these tips:
1. Selecting an Experienced Agent
When selling a house in a short amount of time, it's important to work with an experienced real estate agent who knows the local market. Look for agents who sell many homes and have a good reputation, and ask for referrals from family and friends. Find the right fit and ask about their experience and connection to the local market.
2. Set your Price Competitively
To determine a reasonable starting price for your home, research how much similar homes in your area have sold for and calculate the price per square foot. Consider making adjustments to this number based on your home's desirable or undesirable features. Underpricing your home may result in more online searches and multiple offers, potentially leading to a faster sale at or above market value. Real estate agents can help determine the best pricing strategy for your market saving you a lot of time in doing this research.
3. Declutter and Clean Your Home
It may seem like common sense, but many homeowners neglect to clean and declutter their homes before putting them on the market. Unfortunately, this can be a major turn-off for potential buyers, who may have difficulty envisioning themselves living in a cluttered or dirty space.
If you're unable to manage the cleaning and decluttering process yourself, your real estate agent can likely recommend professionals who can assist you. Alternatively, consider reaching out to friends or family for help if you're working with a tight budget.
4. Stage Your Home
In addition to cleaning and decluttering, professional home staging can help potential buyers envision themselves living in your space. Stagers can work within your budget and timeline by using your furniture and decor or renting new pieces. While you can stage your home yourself, experts have the experience and knowledge to create a layout and design that can impress buyers, proving to be a worthy investment if you need to sell your home quickly. The top rooms for staging is the living room, master bedroom, and kitchen.
5. Professional Photos
In today's market, potential buyers first see homes online. As such, providing excellent photos is crucial. Here are some factors that will help your photos stand out:
- Cleaning, decluttering and staging beforehand
- Proper Lighting
- Avoid photo filters (these tend to look fake and might make it look like you’re hiding something)
- Wide-angle shots (but not so wide that they’re distorted or misleading)
- More than one perspective of each room
- Logical order, starting with an attractive exterior shot
- Avoiding duplicates
In addition, you might consider adding drone shots or a 3D walkthrough and floorplan layout. A professional agent will have a great photographer that actually specializes in real estate photography to show your home in the best possible way.
6. Cash Vs Mortgage Buyer
When selling your home, the buyer's financing method could drastically affect the timeline of the sale. While a cash buyer can close within days, a buyer with a mortgage could take up to two months. However, waiting for a cash buyer could limit your options and result in a lower selling price.
7. Selling to Someone You Know
Selling your home to someone you know, like a friend or family member, can provide some benefits, including eliminating the need to work with an agent and avoiding their commission fees but it's important to consider the potential downsides as well. Selling to someone you know could lead to relationship tension if the sale doesn't go as planned. Keep this in mind before making your decision.