How To Sell Your House Fast (And Get the Most Out Of It)

When it comes to selling a home, the dream scenario is to complete the transaction as quickly as possible while still getting the full asking price. Of course, home sales don’t always work out this way. Occasionally, a house languishes on the market, prompting price reductions that erode profit margins. Such scenarios can be frustrating, to say the least. With that said, there are steps to take to maximize the odds of selling your home quickly — and getting the desired dollar amount. Here are some tips:

Invest in a storage unit. To sell a home quickly, it’s critical to make a dazzling first impression on potential buyers. A big part of that means getting rid of all the junk and clutter. Unless you’re naturally a minimalist (and not many of us are!), investing in a storage unit to deposit the overflow from closets, the basement and other storage areas can be well worth it. This will help to make a home look as open and spacious as possible.

Stage everything. Staging is the process of arranging and decorating rooms to minimize clutter and maximize appeal. Good staging will hide a home’s flaws and highlight its features, such as a fireplace or beautiful backyard views. Often, traditional real estate agents will handle this process. If you’re not planning to use a real estate agent to help sell your home, you can do this yourself or hire a professional staging company.

Promote your listing. A house won’t sell itself. Marketing efforts can go a long way when it comes to attracting potential buyers. This is another component that traditional real estate agents typically handle, but when selling on your own, make sure the listing is posted in the right Facebook groups and that flyers are distributed in key neighborhoods.

Depersonalize your home. Interested buyers who are likely to make an offer are often able to envision themselves and their families in a home, so why not do everything possible to ensure that’s the case for everyone who is shown the house? Remove family photographs and heirlooms. Decorate with neutral colors that appeal to everyone.

Fix what needs to be fixed. While the time and money necessary to fix everything that’s old or broken in a home may not be available, there are small upgrades that can be made to the areas where homebuyers tend to be pickiest, namely the bathrooms and the kitchen. Small improvements could include upgrading old light fixtures or replacing door handles or knobs that have seen better days. Even replacing old curtains on kitchen windows or shower curtains in the bathroom will make a big difference.

​ Focus on curb appeal. No matter the season, a well-manicured front lawn can make a huge impact on potential buyers. Making sure the front door and porch look clean and uncluttered is an easy step to take to achieve this. Take a weekend do so some yard work: Mow the lawn, rake away fallen leaves and maybe plant a few flowers to add a pop of color. First impressions are critical. Following these guidelines can help to streamline the process of selling your home, maximizing the cost and minimizing the time it takes to do so — key priorities for the majority of home sellers.