Selling My House Fast Is Top Priority: How Can I Speed Up the Process?

Non-physical aspects of selling your house fast

Hiring a top real estate agent, pricing your home correctly, and effectively marketing your listing are all steps to consider if you want to sell your house fast.

1. Hire a real estate agent proven to sell houses fast

To sell your home fast, you need to work with a top real estate agent with proven experience selling properties quickly. Depending on your market, top real estate agents can sell homes 10% to 50% faster than average agents. For example, if the average time to sell a home is 60 days, a top agent might cut that down to just 30 days, potentially saving you thousands in carrying costs and accelerating your move.

When interviewing your top matches, make it clear that selling your house fast is your primary goal. Follow up by asking them about their experience with quick home sales, including questions like:

• What sets you apart from other agents when it comes to transaction speed?
• What would your marketing plan for my home look like?
• How long do you expect pre-listing activities to take?
• Does your service fee include staging?
• If I choose you, what’s the first step to getting started?

Experienced real estate agents have the insider tips you need, including doing a pre-listing inspection to help speed up the sales process.

“A buyer that knows you have already had the home inspected is going to feel a lot more comfortable in negotiations for a purchase contract. Most people don’t want to buy a house that has hidden issues,” says Lisa Sanford, a top-selling real estate agent in Kankakee County, Illinois. “Ninety percent of buyers choose not to do another home inspection if they see a pre-listing home inspection dated within a couple of months of their offer.”

2. Choose the optimal time of year to list your home

Across the nation, spring traditionally ranks as the best time to sell your home, but you might find that any time could be a good time to list in a seller’s market. According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), peak buying season is from April through June.

However, HomeLight’s deep dive into transaction data reveals the best time to sell your home truly depends on your market. For example, in San Diego where the sunny climate entices buyers to purchase homes all year round, listing your home in March for a June closing is going to be the best month to sell your house fast. Use HomeLight’s best time to sell calculator to check days-on-market trends for your area.

3. Price your home at or slightly below market value

Your home’s fair market value is the amount your house is worth based on the current status of the real estate market in your area and the condition of your home. To sell your home fast, it’s essential to price your home at or slightly below this value.

To find your home’s fair market value, your real estate agent runs a comparative market analysis of comparable homes, or “comps,” sold in your neighborhood in the past two to three months. Your agent will then set a listing price at or slightly below this number, taking into consideration online pricing benchmarks, or specific price range filters used on listing websites.

In a strong seller’s market where prices are trending upward, underpricing your home is another optional pricing strategy for a fast sale, encouraging buyers to bid up to lock it down in a competitive market. To find out what your home is worth in less than two minutes, use HomeLight’s Home Value Estimator.

4.  Run a strong digital marketing campaign

Survey results from NAR reveal that 41% of recent buyers started the homebuying process by looking for properties online, and all buyers used online tools during the search process.

Buyers want to get a feel for a home before putting in further time and effort. And what better way to give them a helpful glimpse of your house than through a detailed online listing?

Nail these digital touchpoints to make your listing stand out on the web:

• High-quality photos and videos: They are essential in today’s market, Sanford says, adding that while she may occasionally opt for professional photography, an iPhone 14 Pro can also deliver stunning results. Exterior drone shots also are a hit with buyers. To make your listing more attractive, pair these visuals with compelling descriptions that highlight your home’s unique features. Additionally, include virtual tours, 3D walkthroughs, and video content to offer potential buyers an immersive experience before they visit in person.
• Strong social media marketing: Leverage technology to market your home online by using platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Nextdoor, and any other social media channels where your Realtor® has a strong presence. Promote your open house or listing widely across the internet to attract potential buyers.
• Short and sweet e-blasts: Send buyers’ agents a digital flier featuring photos or a video tour of your home, along with a link to your single property listing website. Include key details like the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, square footage, and unique features. Add a call to action button inviting them to schedule a showing with your agent.

5. Consider selling to a cash buyer to expedite closing

When speed is your priority, cash is your friend. According to the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, the average time it takes to close on a home purchase is 50 days as of June 2024. That essentially adds almost two months to your selling timeline. If your home attracts multiple offers and one of them is from a buyer who can pay cash, make sure to weigh the value of the cash offer, where you could close in as few as 10 days.

Keep in mind that cash offers aren’t common. According to the NAR, 80% of recent homebuyers financed their purchase. But cash buyers are on the rise, and in January, they made up 32% of home sales, the highest percentage since 2014. Many of these buyers used the equity from a previous home sale.

If you want a cash offer to help sell your house fast, tap into HomeLight’s network of cash buyers across the country using our Simple Sale platform to get an offer in as few as 24 hours.

Physical aspects of selling your house fast

To attract buyers quickly, your home must make a strong visual impression. If selling your house fast is your goal, focus on these crucial physical aspects to ensure your property stands out. A compelling first impression is essential, as it can significantly influence potential buyers and expedite the sale process. Enhancing your home’s appearance helps ensure that initial reactions are positive and memorable.

6. Conduct a pre-listing inspection

What’s the point of doing a pre-listing home inspection when many buyers plan on doing their own home inspection?

“By getting an inspection before listing, you can help eliminate a lot of stress surrounding the sale,” Sanford says. “With an inspection, you will know if any issues exist and you will have the opportunity to address them. Perhaps you know how to make the necessary repairs or your agent may be able to suggest a contractor of their choice.”

By completing this step before buyers make offers, you shorten the time between the offer and closing. This approach reduces the time needed for inspections, repairs, and related negotiations, streamlining the process and expediting the sale.

7. Start decluttering your house ASAP

As soon as you decide to sell your home, begin decluttering right away. Start cleaning out your house, even if it’s just one closet or drawer at a time.

According to HomeLight’s Top Agent Insights for end of year 2023, 53 percent of homesellers fail to properly stage or declutter their home. Decluttering costs an average of $523 and can increase your return on investment (ROI) significantly. Here are our top tips for expediting the process:

• Set benchmark goals: Create a plan to declutter room by room with deadlines to stay organized.
• Ask for help: Friends and family help speed up decluttering, offering objective eyes on what you should keep and what you can toss.
• Pack as you go: Tackle two tasks at once by packing up everything you won’t need in your daily life for the next few months.
• Place “maybes” in storage: Rent a storage unit for your “maybes” to get them out of the house. The average cost of a storage unit ranges from $70 to $300 per month — which might just push you to make those tough “stay or go” decisions.
• Call in the pros: If you lean toward hoarding things, consider enlisting professional organizers for assistance. Fee structures vary, but you can expect to pay $55-$100 an hour for these services, and the task typically takes between two and 10 hours to complete.

8. Invest in a deep clean — and keep it clean

Deep cleaning is crucial for making a strong first impression during home showings. A spotless, well-maintained home not only enhances its appeal but also can increase its sale price. Buyers are more likely to be impressed and make an offer if they see a clean, well-presented property.

Use HomeLight’s house-cleaning checklist for a detailed, room-by-room cleaning guide, complete with product recommendations and links. To keep your home in top shape, follow a weekly cleaning schedule and enhance organization, particularly for kids’ toys. A consistently clean home requires less prep for showings, allowing buyers to view it sooner and make offers more quickly.

9. Go neutral, neutral, neutral

Most real estate agents will tell you the key to selling your house fast is to make it as neutral as possible so it appeals to a wide range of buyers. Start by depersonalizing every room, removing photos, religious objects, and sentimental items. As much as you love your family, friends, and pets, these items block buyers from visualizing themselves living in the home.

Next, paint your walls a neutral color such as light gray, tan, or beige. Expect to spend a weekend and between $350 and $850 tackling the job, but trust us — it’s well worth the effort.

10. Stage these key rooms in your home

A 2023 NAR survey reveals that 81% of buyers’ agents said staging a house made it easier for buyers to visualize the property as a future home. At a minimum, it’s recommended to stage the three most important rooms according to the NAR: living room, master bedroom, and kitchen.

11. Crank up the curb appeal

Beautiful curb appeal attracts buyers like bees to honey. Get buyers buzzing and eager to arrange viewings to help sell your home fast. Data from HomeLight reveals curb appeal is the number one way homeowners can boost the marketability of their house.

Adding a screened-in area to your existing porch using a ready-made kit typically costs between $2,000 and $2,800, or about $2 per square foot for professional installation. Despite the upfront cost, a screened-in porch delivers a substantial return on investment, averaging about 75% in increased home value. For instance, if you spend $2,500 on a screened-in porch, you could see a boost in your home’s value of about $1,875.

Invest in landscaping improvements, whether by doing it yourself or hiring a professional. Regularly mow, fertilize, and water your lawn, as these basic tasks can yield a remarkable 217% cost recovery, according to NAR’s 2023 Remodeling Impact Report. Consider adding a drip irrigation system or native plants to minimize water usage. A well-maintained landscape can enhance your home’s perceived value by up to 15%, which could add approximately $61,845 to a $412,300 home. With landscaping costs ranging from $2,600 to $13,700, the investment offers excellent value.

Along with landscaping, here are some easy ways to give your home’s front a facelift:

• Pressure wash your driveway and home’s exterior walls
• Clear leaves and debris from your lawn
• Blow snow off your driveway and walkway
• Build a stone paver driveway
• Line your walkway with solar lights
• Paint your door an accent color
• Accessorize the entry with a welcome mat and wreath
• Clean or replace your mailbox
• Beautify your driveway with a plant or stone border

Selling a home involves many factors that can be daunting, especially if you’re new to the process. However, partnering with an experienced real estate agent can simplify the journey and help you achieve your selling goals efficiently. A knowledgeable agent will provide expert guidance, streamline the process, and ensure you get the best results. Connect with a top local agent today for help selling your house fast.

Header Image Source: (Digital Marketing Agency NTWRK / Unsplash)