Do you need to sell a house fast? It’s a question many folks turn to Google for a solid answer. Maybe you are here because of that?
One of the most stressful things you can do in life is go through the selling process of your home. This will undoubtedly be heightened if you need a quick house sale.
Many consumers will ask how to sell their house fast. There is a lot to consider to ensure things go as you expect.
Typically, when a homeowner does an online search for “selling my house fast,” it’s because some financial hardship has created this situation.
We will answer your questions about liquidating your house as quickly as possible.
By following the best home-selling tips along with the advice below, you’ll put yourself in a prime position.
If you are motivated to sell in a timeline that meets your needs, we have the advice to get the job done.
From experience as a Realtor for the past three decades, the items discussed will give you confidence and increase your chances of moving quickly.
Tips For Selling Houses Fast
Here are some of the most vital things you can do to move any property quickly.
- Sell during the best season locally.
- Choose your sales strategy – are you selling traditionally or to a real estate investor?
- Work with a top-producing Realtor.
- Use home staging to appeal to the most buyers, including removing clutter, depersonalizing, and deep cleaning. Make sure the kitchen is spotless. It is one of the most vital rooms in the home.
- Remove as many issues as you can.
- Make any necessary minor repairs and touch-up painting. A fresh coat of paint can make a world of difference. These kinds of updates are the most cost-effective. Knowing what items not to improve and fixes to avoid are just as essential.
- Make sure all the blinds are drawn for maximum light entering the property.
- Ensure your exterior curb appeal is top-notch.
- Set the correct listing price – potentially slightly below the market value. Your asking price is one of the vital factors for the timing you want.
- Make sure you have professional photography to compete with other properties. Having a skilled photographer is a must for helping a house sell faster.
- Ensure the property description in the multiple listing service highlights your home’s best features.
- Be as flexible as possible on house showings. Try not to turn any buyers away.
- Be flexible on the buyer’s requested offer terms.
- Offer a seller concession if necessary.
- Religious people will often try burying a Saint Joseph to get a buyer.
All these things are tried methods for selling a house swiftly in a slow buyer’s market or one that favors sellers. Even in a slow market, you can achieve your goals by following the right advice.
How Fast Can You Sell?
Selling a home to a cash buyer in as little as a week is possible. You can also sell a home in 30 days or less with a buyer getting a mortgage. For example, companies like Opendoor and We Buy Ugly Houses are investors who can close on your timeline.
We will discuss these real estate investors in more depth shortly.
Steps For Selling a House Quick
Let’s go over all the necessary steps to sell a home expeditiously.
Contact Experienced Top Producing Agents
As the saying goes, there is no better recommendation than a track record of success. Most homeowners use real estate agents to sell their property. While this house-selling process involves a lot of paperwork and communication between buyer and seller, it is the most popular option for good reasons.
However, the key is not just picking any real estate agent but seeking out one of the best. You’ll want one of the top local agents to find a buyer for your house fast.
Doing a bit of research and conducting thorough interviews will be essential. Picking one of the best real estate companies in the U.S. will be wise. It will increase the chance of meeting your goals.
You’ll want to be armed with the best interview questions for Realtors. Getting the correct answers will weed out the winners from the losers.
One of the things you will want to pay particularly close attention to is the agent’s list price-to-sell price ratio and average days on the market.
These two statistics tell quite a bit about a real estate agent’s ability to bring a buyer quickly. Are they pricing homes correctly from day one? Do their listings need price reductions?
The worst feeling of a homeowner is hearing from an agent that you need a price reduction when they told you your home would go much higher three weeks earlier.
Realtors Sell Homes Faster and For More Money Than FSBOS!
Many people ask how to sell a house fast without a Realtor. Doing so could be a significant mistake.
If you use a real estate agent to sell your home, you will likely put more money in your pocket. Data shows that homes sold with the help of a real estate agent close for more money. Homes with real estate agents involved sell for 40% more on average than homes sold through the for-sale-by-owner process.
The difference between using a real estate agent and selling a home by owner could be tens of thousands of dollars. Home sales by owner average much less than those sold with a Realtor.
Use a Full-Service Company, NOT a Flat Fee Firm
Some sellers mistakenly believe they can hire a flat fee MLS agency, which will be the same as going with a full-service top-producing agent. WRONG! There are many downsides to having your home listed in MLS with no other service. Make sure you read why.
When you need to sell houses swiftly, it can be a concern that your real estate agent won’t give the correct priority to your sale. For this reason, you must choose an experienced real estate agent. They should have a good track record and a lot of experience.
If you work with the right agent, you should find fewer problems, and your home sells quickly. They have the experience to know how to move your home and should be able to deal with your need to sell expeditiously.
How Do Agents Help to Sell Houses Fast?
How quickly your property sells will depend on many different factors. A lot will depend on local market conditions, including how many homes are for sale locally, how the economy is doing, and how the interest rates affect a buyer’s purchasing power.
Selling your home through a real estate agent can be fast. Recent data suggests homes sold on average in as little as 22 days.
With the right real estate marketing plan, you can put your home in a position to be involved in a bidding war.
Despite this, local conditions and your situation can vary greatly. If you use a real estate agent, they can tailor their service to meet your requirements.
Doing so will ensure that they change their marketing approach, set the price of your home correctly, and give you the information to help you stage your property.
Given your desire to sell swiftly, asking your agent precisely how to price your home to move fast will make sense.
They should help ensure that negotiation with potential buyers and the closing paperwork is pushed through faster. Typically, it makes sense to price just under what other similar homes have been going for.
Things That Agents Must Do
Here are some other things a real estate agent will do to ensure your home sells fast:
- Price your home accurately from day one. Homes priced reasonably find a buyer much quicker than those that are not.
- Provide exceptional photography. The first impression of any buyer will be the photos they see online.
- Write detailed listing descriptions. The best real estate agents provide great photography and take the time to write compelling verbiage highlighting a home’s best features.
- Have a comprehensive online and offline marketing plan.
- Ensure your home is enhanced in all the most visited real estate websites home buyers frequently visit.
- Ask your agent about doing delayed showings, which is one of the best strategies for getting the most money for your home,
All of this should ensure that you get close to the fair market value of your home. The best real estate agents will follow through to ensure your home gets to the closing table quickly.
How Can a Homeowner Help Sell a Home Rapidly?
There are certain things a seller can do that will increase the odds of having a fast sale. Some of the best are as follows:
- Do a deep cleaning of the interior of the home. Ensure all the surfaces are spotless.
- Focus on making your kitchen look its best, as it’s the most critical room in the home. Clean the cabinets and appliances. Replace old hardware if your budget does not allow you to do more.
- Get the home properly staged. This includes removing all clutter and making the home super presentable.
- Remove family photos.
- Make sure your windows are clean.
- Wash down your baseboards and make your floors shine.
- Remove any outdated decor.
- Clean up the exterior by making sure there is ample curb appeal. Remove debris, trim the bushes, and ensure the lawn looks terrific. The yard should be welcoming and kept up.
- Add flowers to the entranceway. Choose some with vibrant colors.
- If you have a front porch, make sure it looks great. The front door should be clean and presentable.
- Take care of any glaring defects both on the inside and out. From experience, buyers will notice all your home’s flaws. Remove as many as you can
- Do touch-up paint on the walls in high-traffic areas or areas that need it.
- If you have excess furniture that overcrowds your rooms, remove it by putting it into storage or donating it to charity. You want an open layout that showcases the space.
- Clean out your garage so it looks spacious and usable.
- Once the listing goes live, be as accommodating as possible for showings. A missed showing is a missed opportunity. Don’t be restrictive about letting people into your home.
Doing all these things will make your real estate agent’s job much more manageable. Most buyers highly prefer turnkey homes. You will want your home to appeal to the masses.
The feedback you receive should help you address any needed improvements.
Sell Fast For Cash
There are other options to dispose of your house fast besides using a real estate agent.
A few non-traditional selling methods are available when you want to find a buyer quickly. You can move on from a house quickly for cash by contacting real estate investors.
It could be surprising which is your best choice, so let’s review some less traditional selling methods.
Do Cash Offers Help to Sell My Home Quick?
The answer is yes. Selling houses as-is fast is undoubtedly possible when an investor buys your home. Investors can purchase your home for cash, but is this the best option?
It can seem like a great choice if you need to get rid of your home quickly, avoiding the problems of making repairs, staging your home, and dealing with showings, but there are downsides to finding a cash buyer.
While avoiding the conventional route can seem appealing, you can expect to take a significant cut in the money you will receive for your home.
Many consumers will wonder how to sell their homes as-is fast. It can be done, but it won’t be the best offer available.
You’ll Sell Rapidly, But The Offer Will Be Lower Than Fair Market Value
Typically, you can expect cash offers to be much lower than if you used a real estate agent. For example, companies like We Buy Ugly Houses have made significant profits over the years from folks desperate for a fast home sale.
It shouldn’t be surprising to learn that you can expect better offers if you wait longer. If you allow yourself more time, buyers who require a mortgage will be more likely to be interested.
While you could have cash buyers interested in buying your home, they might be investors looking to flip your house. They could also be investors looking for rental properties, but either way, they will be looking at their profits and are less likely to give you the fair market value of your home.
Most investors will be looking at paying up to fifty percent less than your home is worth on the open market. However, the advantage these investor companies offer is having no home inspections. You won’t have to worry about an inspector finding a significant problem.
There will also be far less hassle when wondering if a buyer will get their loan or if there will be a home appraisal problem.
You will also have reduced closing costs without paying a real estate commission. Remember, however, even factoring in these lower costs, you will have a much lower offer.
A cash offer from an investor will get your home sold fast but almost always for less than fair market value!Click To TweetIs Selling My House Fast to an iBuyer a Good Idea?
Some investors looking to purchase homes quickly might call themselves iBuyers or instant buyers. These are investors backed by venture capitalists and aren’t likely to give you a fair market value.
Usually, iBuyers will only be interested in your home if it is in good condition and they know it will resell quickly. Others may have a stringent price range that they will want to pay for your property type.
While you can shop between instant buyers, the best you find might still offer a far lower price than a traditional sale.
Any cash offers you get should be carefully compared to what is likely through a traditional sale option. How much regret will you feel if you sell to a cash buyer for less than the fair market value?
A decision like that could certainly harm your long-term financial health, and it is one that you could regret for a long time. Your return will be much less. But if you don’t have better options, you will exchange less money for the convenience and speed an investor offers.
The iBuyer process can be quick, and you will get a rapid online quote of what they will pay you. Opendoor is the most well-known company in this space. Their reviews are more favorable than many investors.
It should be noted you do need to pay fees with Opendoor.
Is For Sale by Owner a Good Idea?
Many folks want to know how to sell a house quickly by owner. Choosing the for sale by owner route can look attractive, with real estate commissions of 5 to 6% to pay.
If you are in a hot market, it should be easier to find a buyer. However, selling as a “FSBO” is usually not the best way to nail down a buyer rapidly.
You will not have access to the same tools a Realtor has in finding a buyer quickly. Even though you sell your home without a real estate agent, you might have to pay a buyer’s agent anyway.
The reality of selling your home and putting the transaction in the hands of the buyer’s agent might not give you the desired results. In this situation, the real estate agent will work for their client’s best interests (the buyer).
You Should Have An Agent
If you want to get to closing as quickly as possible, you need to have a Realtor working on your behalf.
Your agent will know your need to move things along and should have the experience to get the transaction to close faster. They will act as your fiduciary, ensuring your interests are best served and the sale progresses quickly.
FSBO sales are relatively rare, making up around 10% of all homes sold. Many of these sales are to people the seller already knows. If you don’t have a buyer ready, this option could be more complicated than you imagine.
FSBO means you must understand the closing paperwork required to ensure the sale transaction completes as expected.
A real estate attorney and a title company must be employed to ensure the transaction completes all the necessary legal hurdles.
Can I Sell Fast As Is?
If your home needs some repairs, but you don’t have the time or money to fix up the property before a sale, the “as is” option can seem like a good idea. This will mean that buyers accept that you aren’t going to make any repairs, and they will get the home as it currently is.
Selling a home like this isn’t likely to speed up the sale. An as-is sale won’t attract as many buyers, as people will naturally assume there will be many problems with the home. This will be a significant cause for delay in your sale, and you will likely get less for the home.
One of the problems with this type of sale is that buyers will lowball you, hoping to get a bargain on your house. Regardless of the repair work required, you will get offers below the home’s market value.
You also can’t hide information about the home through an as-is sale. Even though you might want to hide the problems with your property, you may not be allowed to, depending on the disclosure rules in your state.
Your real estate agent, however, will have to disclose defects to potential buyers.
Selling an as-is house fast is possible, but it is usually not how you’ll want to market your property.
Can You Sell by Auction?
Auctions aren’t only for homes that have gone through foreclosure; any home can be sold that way. It can be a great option to liquidate fast, but it might not be as quick as you imagine.
While auctions mean you don’t need to worry about negotiations, receive the total value, and the home will be put in front of targeted buyers, there are downsides.
Even though you will know the date your home should sell, you can typically expect to wait 45 to 60 days for closing.
While you might wish to get a swift house sale through an auction, it might end up being slower than a traditional sale could have been.
No Control Over The Sale Price
You also won’t have much control over the final price your home goes for.
While a minimum acceptable bid amount needs to be set, you will be advised to put this low. This could be 10 to 15% below the market value to attract bidders’ interest, as you are still competing against other properties.
Since it is an auction, you may be lucky to get a few bidders competing to buy your home. This can drive up the price so that you have a final bid above the market value.
When you decide to accept the final bid, you are more likely to find it is nearer the minimum amount than you would like.
Many think buying homes at auctions translates into “getting a deal.” This is what you are up against.
There is also the risk of no interest in your home, and not all homes are ideally suited for liquidating at auction. A few things should apply to your situation to make an auction a good idea.
The market conditions are a significant consideration; a changing or emerging market, high demand, a lack of your type of property in the market, and even more homes than buyers can make auctions an excellent option.
You should also have a good amount of equity in the home, 25% or more. This will ensure you get some money from the auction after the mortgage is accounted for.
For most folks, auctions are a last resort and not a traditional method of selling your house for the most money.
What About Short Sales?
A short sale might suggest a quicker transaction, but this isn’t the case. If anything, a short sale can take longer to close than a regular home transaction.
Short sales don’t shorten the time it takes to get a buyer. They only reduce the amount you will receive for the home. These happen when the lender agrees to let you sell the house for less than what remains on the mortgage.
Most homeowners won’t find themselves eligible for a short sale anyway. A lender will only agree to this type of sale if you are months behind on mortgage payments and in a position to be foreclosed. If you are in such a situation, your lender still might not agree to sell your home for less.
Avoid “Sell Faster” Gimmicks
You’ll want to avoid some things when you try to sell fast. For every exceptional real estate agent, others won’t bat an eye at trying to get clients by doing cheesy marketing gimmicks or other shady things that are not in their best interests.
Here are a few of them worth avoiding:
Guaranteed Home Sales
Guaranteed home sale – when considering selling a home, you will likely encounter one of the more prominent gimmicks. The guaranteed home sale program is when a real estate agent promises to sell your property in “X” days or they will buy it.
The problem is that a real estate agent will not pay you the home’s market value. This tactic is used to get people to sign a listing contract. It is one of the worst tricks in the industry. Don’t fall for such foolishness. Pick the best real estate agent to sell your home for top dollar.
While you may want to move in a hurry, this is not the way to do it. The price you will receive will not be competitive.
Pocket Listings
Pocket listings – a pocket listing is another sales tactic you want to avoid. With a pocket listing, a real estate agent does not put your home in MLS or let any other real estate agent know your home will be sold.
Instead, they keep your home under wraps, hoping they will locate a buyer themselves. You’ll want maximum exposure to sell your house briskly and get the most money. A pocket listing does not accomplish that goal. While you may have privacy choices in mind, it does not help sell a house fast.
There is no comparison between marketing this way and having everyone know about the property.
Coming Soon Listings
Coming Soon listings – a coming soon listing is similar to a pocket listing if the agent does not let the entire real estate market see your home. Unethical agents could instead try to procure their buyers without allowing the pool of other local real estate agents to participate.
Open Houses
- Open houses – avoid agents that focus on selling a home centered around open houses—an open house benefits real estate agents, not home sellers. Genuine buyers schedule showings.
Critical Home Sale Facts
Final Thoughts
If you need a speedy house sale, it is certainly possible, and if you choose the right option, you can avoid reducing the price too much. You must carefully consider your options and get help from the right professionals to avoid selling your house for less in exchange for speed.
Hopefully, you have enjoyed my guide to selling your home swiftly and can put it to good use. Now you know the options and what it will take to complete the job.
About the Author: The above Real Estate information on how to sell a house fast was provided by Bill Gassett, a Nationally recognized leader in his field. Bill has expertise in mortgages, financing, moving, home improvement, and general real estate.
Learn more about Bill Gassett and the publications he has been featured in. Bill can be reached via email at billgassett@remaxexec.com or by phone at 508-625-0191. Bill has helped people move in and out of Metrowest towns for the last 37+ years.
Are you thinking of selling your home? I am passionate about real estate and love sharing my marketing expertise!
I service Real Estate Sales in the following Metrowest MA towns: Ashland, Bellingham, Douglas, Framingham, Franklin, Grafton, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hopedale, Medway, Mendon, Milford, Millbury, Millville, Natick, Northborough, Northbridge, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Sutton, Wayland, Westborough, Whitinsville, Worcester, Upton, and Uxbridge MA.
