1. Choose an experienced agent
When time is of the essence, you can’t afford to take a chance on an inexperienced agent. Instead, you’ll want to work with a real estate agent who knows your market and has helped sellers in your situation before.
Start by looking at local “for sale” ads and mark the ones that stand out for having good photos and attractive descriptions. One of the agents behind these types of listings could be a good choice, as they will be serious about selling your home on time.
Likewise, referrals are very important in the real estate business, so ask your family and friends or your contacts on social media if they have worked with a good agent in your area.
Be sure to look for an agent who has been working in your area for years and sells many homes. Chances are they have contacts who can help you find the right buyer. As you begin contacting potential agents, let them know your ideal closing timeframe to see if it’s realistic and how they can help you meet it.
2. Set a competitive price
Always ask for a comparative market analysis to know in what range you can move. Note that you can increase this number if your house is objectively more attractive (for example, if it is on a quiet cul-de-sac) or reduce it if it is less attractive (for example, if the roof needs replacing).
Below we explain why you should NOT make a mistake in the price of your house when you put it up for sale: Your house will appear in more searches. Buyers often set a maximum price when searching online. You don’t want to lose potential buyers because your asking price isn’t in the right range.
If you work with a real estate agent, they will help you determine the right pricing strategy for your market.
3. Clean and declutter your house
Cleaning and decluttering your home before putting it on the market may seem like common sense. However, if you take a look at your local real estate listings, you’re likely to find some messy homes. This can be very unappealing to buyers, who will probably have a hard time imagining moving if clutter and trash get in the way.
If you don’t have the time or physical ability to take care of this yourself, your agent probably knows who you can hire to clean and tidy up for you. If your budget is tight, consider asking friends or family for help.
4. Prepare your house
Once you’ve cleaned and decluttered your home, you can get buyers to imagine themselves in it with the help of an interior decorator.
Depending on your budget and moving timeline, decorators can work with what you have or supply rented furniture and decor. While it’s possible to decorate a home yourself, professionals have experience with layout and design and know the tricks that can win over buyers, so it may be worth spending the money if you need to sell your home in a hurry.
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), buyers consider the living room, master bedroom and kitchen to be the most important areas to decorate.
5. Take professional photos of the property
Many buyers see homes for the first time online, so great photos are essential. These are some of the factors that contribute to top-quality property photos:
· Cleanliness, order and decoration
· Early morning or evening light (also known as the golden hour)
· Supplementary lighting
· Frame and crop each photo
· Avoid obvious photo filters (they tend to look fake and can make it look like you’re hiding something)
· Wide-angle photos (but not so wide that they are distorted or misleading)
· More than one perspective of each room
· Logical order, starting with an attractive exterior shot
· Avoid accidental duplicates
It is generally best to wait a minimum of two years before selling to offset closing costs against any equity you may accumulate during this time. But ultimately, you’ll have to decide whether it’s worth waiting to break even, depending on your individual circumstances and need to sell. If you have to leave your house more quickly, be sure to account for potential losses in advance.
