How to Sell Your House Fast

If you’re thinking about selling your home, you’ve probably got two big questions in mind. “How much can I sell my house for?” and “how can I sell my house fast?” The good news is there are many simple things you can do to make sure your house sells as quickly as possible (and it may be easier than you think.) Let’s go over some of the best ways you can help your house sell fast.

Know What Kind of Market You’re In

You’ve probably heard the terms “buyer’s market” and “seller’s market” before. It can be helpful to know what type of market you’re in before listing your home so that you can set realistic expectations for how long it may take to sell.

Does this mean you can’t list your home if it’s currently a buyer’s market? Of course not, but it does mean that if you have some flexibility on selling your home right this instant, or waiting, you can use this information to help make your decision.

So how do you even know whether it’s a buyer’s or a seller’s market? You can do your own research and see how long on average homes around you are taking to sell. There are lots of good listing websites that tell you exactly how many days a home has been listed for sale. The easiest way to know the market however, is to speak with a Realtor. A good real estate agent will help set expectations and give you expert advice every step of the way.

Free or Low Cost Improvements to Make Before Listing

If you think you need to make tons of costly renovations to make your home desirable to eager buyers, think again. There are so many free and low cost upgrades you can make to your home to make it even more desirable than it already is.

Free: Do some yard work. The outside of your home is the first thing potential buyers are going to see, and you want to make a great first impression. Make sure the grass and shrubs are trimmed, flowerbeds are weeded, and the porch is swept. If it’s been a while, power washing the front of your home can make a huge difference too!

Free: Depersonalize the home. Take down family portraits, diplomas, awards, etc. Remove photos and magnets from the fridge. This will help future buyers envision their own family occupying the home instead of yours.

Low cost: Paint. This doesn’t mean you have to go crazy, but a fresh coat of paint can really brighten the house up and give an instant clean and fresh feel.

Low cost: Have the carpets cleaned (or rent a machine and do-it-yourself.) This is obviously much cheaper than having carpet replaced throughout the house, and is one of the easiest ways to make a house feel move-in ready.

Your Realtor will be able to give you even more advice for your home and personal situation. They know how a buyer thinks and will be able to give you advice on any blind spots you may not be able to see on your own.

To Stage or Not to Stage?

When a lot of people think of staging a home, they imagine hiring an expensive staging company to come in and fill their house with beautiful (and temporary) decor and furniture. While that is one way to stage a house, it’s not the only way. Here are a few simple ways to stage a house that don’t cost a thing:

Clean up and declutter. This is an excellent way to jump start the packing process too. Separate out what you want to keep, donate, and what’s too far gone to do either. Recycle or trash those items. It’s much easier for a potential buyer to envision themselves in your home if there isn’t too much visual clutter to think around.

Make the home feel lived-in. Set the dining table. Place fresh hand towels in the bathroom. Pick some flowers from the rosebush and make a nice arrangement for the entryway. These simple touches make a huge difference to making a home feel cozy.

Open the blinds and let as much natural light in as possible. Give the windows a good cleaning to help let even more light in.

Think of all the senses. Yes, make the home visually appealing, but don’t forget about scent and touch. Drape a quilt or throw blanket over the back of a chair for people to brush their fingers on as they walk by. Put fresh plug-ins in each room to make the house smell great.

According to the National Association of Realtors 2021 Profile of Home Staging, the most common rooms staged when selling (in the following order) are the living room, kitchen, master bedroom, and dining room. You probably don’t have to worry too much about the guest room, office, nursery, etc. Keep your focus on where you can earn the biggest bang for your buck.

Always consult with your Realtor before making any big staging decisions. They’ll be able to tell you where to focus your efforts and may have some solutions you hadn’t even thought of yet.

For even more staging tips, visit our post: How to Stage Your Home to Sell for Top Dollar.

Work With a Trusted Professional

One of the best tips for selling your house fast is working with a trusted real estate agent. Hiring a Realtor can make all the difference when it comes to your house sitting for a few weeks — or a few months. According to Investopedia, foregoing working with a real estate agent can be costly in many areas, from decreased showings to potential legal fees. It just makes sense to have a trained professional by your side for one of the biggest financial transactions of your life.

You may know of a friend or family member who recently got their real estate license and are eager to help them out (and get a good deal on commission fees in the process.) This sounds like a great idea in theory, but there are a few points to keep in mind when making this decision. How much experience does this person have? Do they know the market in your area? How will you handle some of the more sensitive conversations that come up, such as the listing price of your home? Sometimes it can be more challenging to work with someone you know very well, even if they have the best interests for you. For more, visit Should I Hire a Family Friend or Relative as my Real Estate Agent?

With some simple tweaks and intentionality, you can make a huge difference in how quickly your house sells. By knowing the market, making a few home improvements, doing some staging, and working with a trusted real estate agent, you’ll be signing paperwork and handing over the keys in no time.

If you’re looking to sell your home in the greater Sacramento area, reach out to us here at Quantum California. We offer free consultations to answer all of your questions and go over the entire process together!