Want to sell your house fast in the near future? If so, there are certain things you need to know about how to complete the process as quickly and efficiently as possible.
However, learning how to sell your house fast depends entirely on your circumstances. For example, do you have a budget to make repairs and updates or do you need to sell a house as-is? Additionally, are you working with a realtor or trying to sell your house by yourself?
We’re here to cover the basics for people in all circumstances. Keep reading for our top tips on how to sell a house quickly.
1. Know the Market to Sell Your House Fast
Start the house-selling process by doing a little research. Get a market analysis of the homes in your neighborhood that have sold in the last few months. Of the homes on the list, which ones are most similar to yours?
This should give you a baseline idea of how to price your home. Compare and contrast your home with the others, taking certain factors into considerations, such as:
- Age
- Condition
- Property size
- Square-footage
- Features (garage, shop, outside living areas, etc.)
- Recent renovations and updates
- And more
Next, understand more about the current real estate market in general. Is it currently a buyer’s market or a seller’s market?
In a seller’s market, there are plenty of buyers looking for new homes and not a lot of houses on the market. This allows you to ask for more money for your home and will likely equate to more offers on your house.
In a buyer’s market, there are a lot of homes available for sale and not many buyers. This puts the control in the hands of the buyer. They can come in with lower offers and make you compete against other sellers.
2. Know the Condition of Your Home
If you want to sell your house fast, you must take an objective look at your home. We recommend hiring a home inspector to evaluate your home’s condition.
This can also save time during the selling process. The buyer won’t have to schedule an inspection, wait for the results, and bring up issues you didn’t know existed.
More importantly, if you’re thinking “I need to sell my house fast,” getting it inspected ahead of time will give you a jumpstart on any necessary repairs. You can take care of any issues before the house goes on the market.
3. Make Necessary Repair and Updates
If you want to sell a house quickly for the best price possible, you need to make sure it’s in pristine condition. This means investing in repairs and renovations. The most necessary repairs will be the ones vital to the home’s structural and functional integrity.
Neglecting these issues may void a buyer’s contract with their lenders. Some lenders and types of loans demand a certain standard. Common distressed house red flag issues include:
- Negative drainage
- Water damage
- Mold
- Damaged roof
- Pest infestation
- Foundation issues
- Chipped or peeling paint
- And more
However, if your house has any of these problems and you don’t have the time or money to make repairs, you can sell the house as-is. Though, you’ll need to reduce your price significantly.
4. Deep Clean the House
Once you’ve made the necessary repairs (or decided against them), you need to spend a week deep-cleaning the house from top to bottom. If you want to sell your house fast, it must be presentable for potential buyers when it hits the market. Here’s a quick cleaning checklist:
- Vacuum and steam clean (or shampoo) all the carpets
- Sweep and mop hard floors
- Clean all verticle and horizontal surfaces
- Sanitize the kitchen and bathrooms
- Clean all appliances inside and out
- Get rid of any odors
- Remove all signs of pets
- Clean up the exterior of the home
If you’re able to move out of the home and clear out all of your personal possessions, great. If not, declutter the house as much as possible to make it feel cleaner, less personalized, and more spacious. Rent a temporary storage unit or ask a friend if you can store your stuff at their place until you find a new home.
Additionally, if you still live in the home while trying to sell it, clean up after yourself on a daily basis. This will help you avoid any rush cleaning jobs if you have someone wanting to tour the home.
5. Think About Hiring a Real Estate Agent
If you’re thinking, “I need to sell my house fast,” consider hiring a real estate agent. Most real estate agents charge 3% of the home’s sale price. If you sell your home for $225,000, it means paying your real estate agent $6,750.
However, working with a real estate agent grants you access to more home-listing sites and their experience and expertise. They know the local market well and have valuable connections, such as other real estate agents. Those other real estate agents might have buyers looking for a home like yours.
6. Learn How to Market Your Listing
If you choose not to work with a real estate agent, you must learn how to market your house listing on your own. There are several options here.
First, put up a for-sale sign in your yard to attract potential home buyers driving by. Additionally, post your house on social media and ask all of your friends and followers to share the post for you. On Facebook, you can also join a community page where you can post your listing to thousands of members of your town.
7. Consider Your Other Options
Finally, understand that there are other options if you want to sell your house fast but don’t have a lot of time or money to make it happen. Think about selling to a cash home buyer.
A cash home buyer will inspect your home and give you a cash offer. If you accept that offer, you can close on your house in a matter of weeks.
Cash home buyers are ideal for people who:
- Have homes in disrepair
- Are being relocated for work
- Are going through a divorce
- Are facing a foreclosure
- Have inherited a house they don’t want
- Etc
If you’re thinking, I need to sell my house now,” a cash home buyer can make it happen.
Do You Want to Sell Your House Fast?
Are you wondering “How to sell my house fast in Chicago?” If so, consider the advice listed above.
What options are best for you based on your circumstances? Should you spend time and money prepping your house for the market or do you need to sell as soon as possible?
If you’re looking to sell your house fast, we can help. Contact us today to get a cash offer. If you accept, we can close in as little as seven days.