When it comes to selling a house — the faster you can do it, the better. The longer a home is on the market, the higher the probability of getting a lower offer. On top of the strategic aspect, a fast sale may be a necessity. Perhaps you’re going through a divorce, have a family member in need, or have a baby on the way. Sometimes life sends you looking for the fastest way to sell a house. So, here are our top 3 tips to sell your home fast.
Tip 1 – Price it Right from the Start
Sellers often think they should price high and then lower the price later if the house doesn’t sell right away. But that can actually result in selling your home at a lower price. The first 30 days your home is on the market is always the best activity you’re going to see. If you price too high, your home is just going to sit on the market with very few showings, and it might even get stale. As a result, many buyers and their agents will stay away, assuming you’re not serious about selling or that you’re unwilling to negotiate.
The best thing you can do to sell your home fast is to work with your real estate agent to develop a realistic price range for your home, based on recent sales of similar homes in your neighborhood (aka “comps”). If you are competitive with your price, you will attract the attention of buyers. Furthermore, the more interest from buyers means the more potential for offers.
Tip 2 – Clean, Declutter, and Depersonalize
The fewer things you have in your home, the larger is looks, and the more likely it is to sell. We recommend removing anything unnecessary from your home before you get listing photos done. This includes knick knacks, kids’ toys, and extra furniture. Go through each room and take a minimalist approach. If you’re not sure what’s sticking out, take photos of rooms on your phone to help recognize what’s cluttering up each area.
We also recommend taking down family photos, religious items, and political posters so prospective buyers can truly envision THEIR family in the home. It might also be a good idea to hire a professional cleaning service to give your home a deep clean. Buyers won’t be able to resist a house that’s clean, clutter-free, and neutral like a blank canvas.
Tip 3 – Make the Property Easy to Show
Being flexible about showings gives all buyers the opportunity to tour your home. This increases the odds that your home will sell quickly! You should be ready for prospective buyers early in the morning, at night, and on weekends with little notice. In addition, if you have kids, having a plan for activities and a bag of supplies ready to go in the car will really help for those last minute showings when you need to get out of the house fast.
It’s also a nice courtesy to leave the home during showings. This lets buyers discuss the pros and cons comfortably and roam the house. As always, be sure to leave the home in the best possible showing condition. First impressions are everything!
We hope this helped give you a better understanding of how to sell your home quickly! If you have any more questions about the home selling process, please give us a text or call at 253-537-HOME!
