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The Agent's Easy Guide to Selling Homes Faster

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The Agent's Easy Guide to Selling Homes Faster

The Agent's Easy Guide to Selling Homes Faster

I'm late! I'm late! For a very important date!

You don't have to be the white rabbit to understand that sometimes, we get into a time crunch when it comes to selling our homes.

You've shopped for months and finally found the perfect home. And before you realized what happened, you signed an offer contingent on the sale of your current home. Panic time?

No reason to panic. Check out this guide to selling homes faster. What to do and not to do to get your home sold asap!

Got Repairs? Do 'Em Now

Your goal, over the next few weeks, is to make your home as appealing as possible to new buyers. That means that if you've got repairs to work on, do 'em now!

Since you're in a rush, you don't want to tackle repairs that take a lot of time. And you also don't want to throw a ton of money into the home if you won't see a good return on that investment.

But there are a few things you can repair that take very little time, have minimal impact on your wallet, and help you sell faster. 

Paint the Inside

When was the last time you painted? If it was more than five years ago, it's time to repaint. 

If you have pictures hanging on nails, or marks and scuffs in the walls, repair those before you paint. This process requires just a few materials and shouldn't take you longer than a weekend to do.

Choose paint colors that are neutral and appeal to lots of people. Not many people want to buy a home with lime green kitchen walls. And if you have wallpaper, take that down and paint instead.

Note, painting the exterior is a whole different ball of wax. It's best done by a professional. But it might be worth it if the exterior paint job is really bad.

Work on Curb Appeal

If you have broken shutters, cracked sidewalks, or a tilted mailbox, fix that stuff before you list. Most of the things we need to fix on the exterior of the home are simple and easy. 

Pay attention to outdoor lighting fixtures too. If you're sporting a bare bulb above your front door, get a shiny new fixture instead. Also, get a new set of house numbers to give your exterior some pizzazz.

Kitchen & Bathroom

Kitchens and bathrooms are touchy subjects when it comes to home remodels. A complete kitchen overhaul does add value to your home. But it's easy to go overboard in these rooms.

However, there are plenty of little repairs you can make that won't cost a lot and will improve your odds of selling.

Leaky pipes are unacceptable. If you can't fix them yourself, it's time to call in a plumber. This includes fixtures like faucets and showerheads. 

If the fixtures date to circa 1982, change them out. They don't cost much and the new fixtures will really update both of these rooms.

Change cabinet pulls and door handles. Fix broken cabinet doors and drawers that don't slide easily. These are small things, but they make a big difference for new buyers.

Lighting

How old are your lighting fixtures? If they were around during the Reagan administration, it's time to update. 

Ceiling fans are great for some rooms, but not for all. If you have old, dirty ceiling fans, consider changing them for a simple light instead.

Pick fixtures that give off lots of light because buyers love light. And always replace blown-out lightbulbs before the buyer comes to view the home. If you do still have some dark spaces, invest in a few floor lamps to lighten things up.

Declutter & Stage

Do you have a lot of stuff? If so, it's time to work on that problem. Decluttering is one of the most effective things you can do to sell your home fast.

How to Declutter

Your first step is to find a place to store stuff. Store things that you want to move to your next home but don't want to clutter up your current home. Rent a storage unit for a couple of months if necessary.

It is never a good idea to pack stuff into basements, closets, and cabinets. Your home buyer will look in all those areas. And when you fill closets to the brim, it shows buyers that the home doesn't have enough storage space. 

Next, step back and evaluate what you need and don't need. Be honest! 

Go through your home and make piles for items to send to Goodwill and piles to go to the dump. Clean out closets and drawers. Get rid of everything you haven't used in over a year. 

Decluttering also applies to your basement and garage. If you must keep things in there for storage, make sure they're organized. Invest in totes of all sizes that you can label so you know what's inside them.

How to Stage

Home staging doesn't have to be difficult or expensive. But it makes a huge difference in how fast it sells. You should always stage before you take listing pictures. 

Don't have any furniture in your home? That's okay, some agents have virtual staging options available for empty homes. Check with your agent. 

Your first job: clean, clean, clean! 

Clean everything! Buyers will notice if your home is dirty. And that's a red flag that you don't take care of your home as you should.

Rent a carpet cleaner to get stains and smells out of the carpets. Make sure that dishes are out of the sink and dishwasher. Take your clothes are out of the washer and dryer. 

Use only a few pieces of furniture per room. Your job is to show how big the house is. And when it's clogged up with furniture, buyers won't see that. 

Take down personal items. Buyers want to imagine themselves living in the home, not you. So they won't love your family pictures all over the walls.

On days when you have home viewings, open all the curtains and turn on lamps. Buyers love it when everything looks light and airy. Put fresh flowers in vases throughout the home to bring in beautiful scents.

If you have pets, evict them for the day. And all their stuff too, including bowls, beds, and litterboxes. Potential buyers don't want to see pets running around.

Hire An Agent

Trying to sell a home yourself sounds good, in theory. But it's not a good idea if you're selling a home fast. Hire an agent to get the best results.

Don't hire just any agent though. You need one that's full-time and willing to dedicate the necessary hours to get your home sold. Make sure they're aware before you hire them that you need this done fast. 

Ask around for recommendations. Check Google reviews to see what other people say about them. Check with your state regulatory agency to see if there have been any complaints filed against them.

Consider hiring an agent that has access to offer a 3D home tour on their website. This gets your home more exposure. And brings in more serious buyers to view your home.

You want your agent to have lots of experience selling homes in your neighborhood. They should be able to tell you how many homes they've sold over the last six months.

A Word About Pricing & Timing

You'll want to work closely with your real estate agent to decide the best time to list. And to figure out the best price. 

One of the many benefits of having an agent is that they know the market. And they've seen what homes like yours sell for. 

People tend to buy and sell more homes during the spring and summer. And the day of the week matters too. Homes listed on Wednesday and Thursday tend to do better than homes listed late in the weekend.

When you're in a hurry to sell, pricing makes a big difference. Ask your agent to give you a range of pricing based on similar home sales in the area. This gives you a better idea of your options.

Selling Homes Faster Has Never Been Easier

With access to social media and internet listings, selling homes faster has never been easier. You no longer have to sacrifice price for the sake of time. With a little preparation, you can get a great price and sell fast.  

Your first move is to make any necessary repairs. This makes your home more inviting and it shows buyers that you've taken good care of it.

Then, declutter and stage to make it look as big and bright as possible. Buyers love to see a home that's full of light and not-so-full of furniture.

Finally, hire the right agent for the job. Someone with great reviews and lots of experience selling homes in your area. And make sure that you and your agent are on the same page with pricing and timing to get the best results.

Need help finding the right agent? We've got you covered! Visit Hommati's Agent Finder page to get started.