Sell Your House Fast With These 9 Actionable Tips

Did you know that the US’s homeownership rate during the third quarter of 2019 was 64.8 percent? For those living in the Midwest, the figure proves even higher at 69 percent.

Impressive stats by any standard, if you fall into one or both of these categories, you may want or need to sell your house.

From the coronavirus pandemic to interest rates, various factors have spurred many people to make a move. Do you fall into this group? If so, we know what’s on your mind, “How do I sell my house fast?”

Fortunately, we’ve got the answers you need. We’ve poured over the most recent real estate research and compiled a surefire list of strategies. They’ll help you put your house on the market and make it an irresistible commodity.

With that in mind, keep reading for the “sell my house fast tips,” you need to open the door on the next chapter of your life.

How can I sell my house fast?

Let’s start with the question that we get asked over and over again. Can I sell my home fast? The answer’s a resounding, yes!

But you may have to think outside-of-the-box to make your sale happen. What do we mean? For example, instead of relying solely on old-fashioned tactics like open houses and real estate agents tromping through your home to make a sale, go digital.

It’s the single best way to gain a wider audience for your home. Getting your home listing online will also permit people from all over the country and the world to take a look at your home.

With the advent of the internet, there’s never been a better time or more effortless way to buy and sell homes. So, don’t be afraid to get online.

While many online services for real estate exist, do yourself a favor and head over to iBuyer. There, you’ll find all of the resources you need for a rapid, easy sales experience.

Interested in your home’s current market value? Receive a free online home value estimate!

1. Declutter and clean your home

One of the most important aspects of making a home attractive to potential buyers remains making sure it’s clutter-free and impeccably clean. When you’re short on time, this process can feel like a challenge in and of itself.

But here are some tips to streamline the process. Obtain a storage unit and pack away as many of your extra belongings as possible. In other words, if you don’t need it, store it.

The same goes for large furnishings and anything that tends to make your home look smaller than it is. Your objective is to evoke an open, airy floor plan as much as possible.

Why? Because 84 percent of new homes have an open layout, fulfilling a demand driven by potential homeowners.

But don’t despair if your home has an older floor. Simple fixes like monochromatic interior decor and coordinating wall and furniture colors can increase the appearance of your home’s size. Here are some more tricks to help your home appear larger and more open.

Once you’ve cleared your place of extraneous belongings, hire a professional maid to clean everything. Yes, it may cost you a few hundred dollars, but it could reap you many thousands of dollars and a much faster sale in the long run.

2. Amplify your home’s storage space

You’ll also want to organize closets. Why? Because buyers are very interested in how much extra storage space a house has.

One study found that 64 percent of buyers report ample storage space as extremely or very important to a purchase. And 80 percent of buyers favor a spacious home garage with ample areas to put stuff (e.g., built-in cabinets, shelving units, storage cubbies).

If you’re not able to show this storage space to them, they may look elsewhere. Besides closets, this also holds true for kitchen pantries and other storage areas, including under-the-stairs areas and attic space.

Your goal? Clearing out enough space so that visitors have the impression your home has plenty of storage. You may also wish to add a few simple upgrades such as shelves to your garage.

3. Settle on a selling strategy

You’ve got two options when it comes to selling your home. These conventional sales options include:

Selling FSBO
Hiring a real estate agent

How do you know which one’s right for you? Selling FSBO comes with one significant advantage. You get to pocket the commission (typically three percent) you’d typically pay to a real estate agent.

That said, you’ll have to know how to negotiate like an expert if you want to move your home quickly. You’ll also need to bear in mind escrow timelines, dealing with paperwork, and consulting with an attorney to ensure you fill out all documents correctly.

Here’s what you need to know before accepting a cash offer on your home.

For these reasons, many individuals prefer to relinquish the process to a professional agent. It likely also represents your most expedient route.

Hiring a real estate agent comes with convenience and peace of mind. You never have to stay up at night worrying about whether paperwork has been completed correctly or how much an attorney will charge you.

What’s more, real estate agents know better than anyone how to make houses sell rapidly. They’ll also help you streamline contract prep work, signings and closings, and negotiations.

That said, if you’re an excellent salesperson, save yourself three percent and choose FSBO.

4. Set a price home buyers can’t resist

Real estate agents also prove fantastic resources when it comes to pricing your home to sell. It’s one of the fastest ways to speed up the selling process.

How will your agent help you determine a selling price that’s both reasonable and competitive? It starts with generating comparables (a.k.a. comps). Comps are a list of houses in your immediate vicinity comparable in size to yours that have recently sold.

The prices for which each home sold are used by your real estate agent to determine the best price for your future sale. Your agent may wish to price your home a little lower to inspire a bidding war in some cases. You can also do this with an FSBO sale.

Of course, how well this strategy works will depend on your current real estate market’s health and how well homes are selling in your specific area.

Another simple trick for increasing your home’s attractiveness to buyers? Listing it in a bracket just slightly under other homes in your area. For example, instead of a cool $400,000, consider listing at $399,000.

You’ll immediately gain a wider audience of people who are searching under $400,000 online. Even though the pricing difference is negligible, you’d be surprised at how well this strategy works.

Check out our handy home value estimates tool to help you get started. No obtaining comps or hiring real estate agents required!

5. Get quick repairs out of the way

You’d be amazed by what a few minor repairs can do to what buyers are willing to pay for a home. Simple fixes can have a far larger impact than you likely realize. Home selling is one of those occasions where you do need to sweat the small stuff.

What are some easy fixes that’ll turn hesitant homebuyers into enthusiastic purchasers? They include:

Fixing loose tiles
Patching up spots where paint has gotten scratched or peeled
Repairing loose door handles
Tightening leaky faucets

Beside handling these items, you may also wish to indulge in a few affordable upgrades. These include:

Swapping out old or outdated light fixtures
Purchasing matching (newer) appliances
Installing new hardware on bathroom cabinets
Applying a fresh coat of paint inside
Installing new hardware on kitchen cabinets

These improvements will help your home show better and place it in higher demand.

6. Don’t forget about curb appeal

Curb appeal is vital to selling your home in a timely fashion. Remember that your home’s exterior represents a potential seller’s first impression of your property. Make sure that your home exudes a well-maintained, tidy, and welcoming appearance.

What are some of the best ways to achieve this? By doing the following:

Clearing paths and walkways
Cleaning doorknobs and windows
Trimming hedges, overgrown tree branches, and shrubs
Replacing broken mailboxes or lights
Painting the front door
Planting flowers

While you could likely tackle all of these tasks yourself, time is of the essence. Hire a professional landscaper for assistance with the list of items above.

7. Stage your home

Once you’ve got your home looking fabulous, it’s time to stage it. Forty-eight percent of all potential home buyers report staging as extremely, very, or somewhat important to a home-buying decision.

What is staging? This common tactic is used by real estate agents to make a home look more appealing to buyers. It involves having furniture and interior decor brought temporarily into a residence to give buyers an idea of its potential.

Staging also helps define spaces and makes rooms look larger. To accelerate the process, put your belongings in storage, if possible. The stager will bring in everything, so give them the full space to show how welcoming and cozy your home is.

8. Enlist the services of a professional photographer

If you’re willing to put all of this work into properly showing your home, then you deserve to have excellent photos. Professional pictures can do wonders when it comes to increasing interest in your home.

If you choose to work with a full-service realtor, they’ll likely bring in their own professional to handle getting images of your home. But even if you go the FSBO path, spend a few hundred on top-notch photography.

What’s more, some real estate agents now offer a 3D virtual house tour. If possible, you want to opt in to this service. Few things will help you sell a home more quickly, and as we mentioned before, you want to use the internet to gain exposure for your home.

On the day that photos get snapped, make sure your home is showcased by as much natural light as possible. That means replacing old lightbulbs, opening blinds, and drawing back curtains. (Incidentally, you’ll want to do the same during listing appointments.)

9. Craft an excellent listing description

Another vital aspect of presenting your home to potential buyers? A great listing description. Begin working on this as soon as you’ve chosen a listing price. Remember that the words you use will impact how quickly your home sells.

If you’re working with a real estate agent, this is another aspect of your home sale that they’ll handle for you. What about FSBO sales?

Make sure you include the following elements:

Use the professional photos we talked about in the previous step
Include a sense of urgency with statements such as “All offers must be submitted by [Date]”
Include anything that makes your neighborhood a great place to live
Describe proximity to public transportation as well as local schools, parks, and restaurants
Highlight your home’s best features
Use effective keywords (e.g., houses for sale, homes for sale, property for sale) so that your listing is easy for buyers to find with a Google search

By following these quick house sale tips, you’ll create a listing that garners more search traffic and more eyes on your property.