Statistics suggest that it typically takes between three and six months to sell a home. This can be alarming to those considering putting their house on the market.
So, what can you do to speed up the process and get your home sold quickly? This guide has the answer.
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Don’t Hold Your Home Back
If you’re looking to sell your home quickly, it’s important to avoid making any major mistakes that may delay the sale. Research suggests that four main factors can prevent your home from selling quickly.
Limited property appeal is one of them. Different homes tend to spark different levels of interest, and some properties may have limited appeal due to certain characteristics.
For instance, homes with more than three bedrooms, a large house with a small garden, or a small house with a large garden may not attract a wide range of buyers. If this applies to you, consider consulting a real estate agent to decide the best approach to marketing your property.
Pricing is another factor that can slow down the sale of a home. If a potential buyer can find a similar property in the same area at a lower price, they may not be motivated to make an offer on a more expensive home. Be sure to price your property carefully.
You don’t want to undervalue it, but you also don’t want to overprice it and turn away potential buyers.
The power of first impressions must not be underestimated either. When you’re selling your home, you only have around forty seconds to make a potential buyer interested. Follow the tips provided here to ensure your house catches their attention.
Start By Preparing Your House for Sale
The first step in getting your house ready to hit the market is to declutter. It may seem overwhelming, but having a plan and breaking the process down into smaller, manageable tasks makes it easier.
Start with areas like storage rooms, utility rooms, and garages, then move on to more personal spaces. Sort items into categories like keep, donate/sell, and discard. Aim to be honest with yourself, and minimise what you intend to keep.
Clear surfaces and countertops, and organise storage spaces to maximise the look of your home. Take action and sell, donate, or get rid of items as needed. Continue decluttering and maintenance throughout the selling process.
Deep cleaning is also important to make a positive impression on buyers. Begin by dusting and cleaning ceilings, walls, and light fixtures.
Then take care of windows and mirrors, doorknobs, light switches, and other hardware. Vacuum or sweep floors, and use the right cleaners for different floor types.
Pay special attention to the kitchen and bathroom—clean cabinets, drawers, and appliances, as well as sinks, faucets, and countertops. Remove any soap scum or grime from bathroom tiles and fixtures, and make sure toilets, showers, and tubs are spotless.
Use odour-neutralising sprays or air fresheners if needed.
Finally, tidy up outside to create a welcoming and well-maintained appearance. Repair any cracks or damaged areas, repaint or touch up the paint if necessary, ensure gutters and downspouts are clean, pressure wash paths, and trim hedges and bushes.
Mow the lawn, remove any weeds or dead plants, add fresh mulch or bark chippings to flower beds, and plant colourful flowers or add potted plants.
Once you’ve finished decluttering and cleaning, take a look at minor repairs. Fill in any small holes or cracks in walls and ceilings, repaint surfaces with a neutral colour, repair or replace any broken light fixtures or switches, and fix loose or creaky floorboards.
Address plumbing problems, such as dripping faucets, running toilets, or slow drains, and check for any water stains or signs of water damage.
All of these tasks will help you make sure your home looks its best and is ready to be on the market.
Listing Your Home
The next move is to list your property. You have numerous options to choose from, the most classic being to consult an estate agent. This is often the simplest option, as they will handle the marketing, showings, and negotiations when you find a buyer.
To find the right estate agent, start by researching the ones in your local area. Ask people close to you, such as family, friends, and neighbours for recommendations based on their past encounters.
Then, check online reviews and ratings on websites like Google, Yelp, or Trustpilot for estate agents in your area. Both positive and negative reviews should be taken into account to get a comprehensive view.
Narrow down your list to a few potential estate agents and interview them. Ask about their experience, local market knowledge, marketing strategies, services, fees, and commission structure.
Request a valuation of your property from each estate agent and compare them, but be wary of a valuation that is far higher or lower than the others.
Remember that communication is key during the selling process. Assess their responsiveness and accessibility during the interview process. Think about their communication style and whether you feel comfortable working with them.
Once you have found an agent, you are ready to begin showing your property. Alternatively, you can try to market your property yourself.
This has the potential to save you money on commission fees, as well as provide you with complete control over the selling process. You can set the asking price, decide when to schedule viewings, negotiate offers, and manage the overall marketing strategy.
However, there are a few drawbacks to selling your property without an estate agent. You may have limited market exposure, as they have access to multiple listing services and online portals.
Additionally, it can be a time-consuming process, and you may have difficulty pricing your property without access to market data and expertise.
A Faster Way
If you’re not sure either of those methods will give you the speed you need, you can also sell your home to an individual investor or an investment company. You may have seen commercials for many of these companies, as they often say things like “We Buy Homes for Cash.”
These companies typically buy homes in “as-is” condition, so you won’t need to worry about deep cleaning or decluttering. All you have to do is contact the company and provide them with information about the property, such as its location, size, condition, and any known issues.
Based on this information, the cash home-buying company will evaluate the property and determine its value. They usually make a cash offer, taking into account the property’s condition and market factors, which is typically around 80% of the home’s market value.
If the homeowner is happy with this, the process will proceed with a more detailed inspection, the exchange of contracts, and then closing day. The whole process can usually be completed in as little as two weeks.
Sell Your House Faster!
To make sure you get the best possible price for your home, here are some tips that will help you sell it faster.
It may take some time and effort to get everything ready, but it will be worth it in the end. You will find a great buyer and be able to move on with your life in no time.
Any thoughts about selling your home?
Are you looking to sell your house? We buy houses in any condition. Get in touch if you are thinking of selling.
Property Saviour Price Promise
- The price we’ll offer is the price that you will receive with no hidden deductions.
- Be careful with ‘cash buyers’ who require a valuation needed for a mortgage or bridging loan.
- These valuations or surveys result in delays and price reductions later on.
- We are cash buyers. There are no surveys.
- We always provide proof of funds with every formal offer issued.
We'll Pay £1,500 Towards Your Legal Fees
- No long exclusivity agreement to sign because we are the buyers.
- You are welcome to use your own solicitor.
- If you don’t have one, we can ask our solicitors for recommendations.
- We share our solicitor’s details and issue a Memorandum of Sale.
Sell With Certainty & Speed
- Our approach is transparent and ethical, which is why sellers trust us.
- 100% Discretion guaranteed.
- If you have another buyer, you can put us in a contracts race to see who completes first.
- Complete in 10 days or at a timescale that works for you. You are in control.
