When it comes to selling your home, do you have a need for speed?
Maybe your house is distressed or in poor condition and you don’t want to worry about making repairs before putting it on the market. You could be dealing with major damage or facing foreclosure or tax liens. Maybe you inherited a house and no longer want to deal with the property taxes, or you could just need to speed things along.
No matter the reason, if you need to sell your house fast, you have a few options. Some methods, like selling to a cash buyer, can significantly speed things along.
How to Sell Your House Fast
- Option 1: Sell Your Home As-Is Fast for Cash
- Option 2: Find a Real Estate Agent Known for Speed
- Option 3: List Your Property on the MLS
- Option 4: Sell as For Sale by Owner (FSBO)
- Option 5: Put Up Your Home for Sale at an Auction
Let’s take a closer look at different options for selling your home quick. (Hint: A cash offer is almost always going to be the fastest way to close the sale.)
Option 1: Sell Your Home As-Is Fast for Cash
Cash offers are the quickest way to sell a house. By selling your house to a cash buyer, you can finish the entire process in two weeks or less. Compare that timeline to the traditional real estate market process, which can take weeks or months to complete.
A major benefit of selling your home to a cash buyer is that you can leave the house as-is; no need to invest in repairs, updates, cleaning, or staging. Additionally, cash buyers don’t have to go through the bank to get a mortgage approved, which is one of the reasons other selling methods take so long.
Selling your house for cash makes it easy for you to get an instant cash offer, close quickly on a guaranteed timeline, and move on, cash in hand.
Option 2: Find a Real Estate Agent Known for Speed
Some experienced real estate agents are known for moving quickly through the home selling process. If you can find an agent known for speed, it may be an option for selling your house fast. They could help you expedite the inspection, cleaning, staging, and negotiation process.
However, the speed of sale depends on conditions of the real estate market. There’s no way to know for sure if the house will sell fast.
Option 3: List Your Property on the MLS
Multiple listing services (MLS) databases are a way for real estate agents to list properties on the market. One option to sell your home fast is to pay a flat fee MLS listing service to list your house on the local MLS network and ask for cash offers. Investors and house flippers looking for fixer-uppers may be able to find your property and make an offer.
One thing to keep in mind is that you run the risk of running into national cash buying companies, lead generation companies, or wholesale buyers, which often offer predatory business contracts. These companies tend to sell your information to local home buyers, meaning they act as a middleman—and you get less money for your property.
Option 4: Sell as For Sale by Owner (FSBO)
Another option is to sell the house yourself. A home for sale by owner (FSBO) means you don’t list the property on the MLS or work with a real estate agent. You are responsible for conducting market research, advertising your house (often through word-of-mouth marketing or yard signs), staging and showing the home, negotiating a deal, and drawing up a contract. The FSBO process also saves you money on commission fees.
FSBO sales can go quickly, especially if you already have the buyer lined up or know them personally. However, if that’s not the case, you can’t count on a fast FSBO sale. In fact, unless you know the buyer, it could take weeks or months for a FSBO home to sell.
Option 5: Put Up Your Home for Sale at an Auction
Real estate auctions are one method to sell your home quick. If you happen to find the right buyer, have exactly what they’re looking for, and find the auction at the perfect time, you can swiftly and easily sell your home.
But auctions are unpredictable; there’s no way to know if your house will sell at all, and you have little control over the final price. You will also need to cover the auction fees, regardless of whether the home sells.
Best Home Improvements to Sell Your House Fast
Before you make any moves, you can look into home improvement projects that will further increase the resale value of your property and help you sell faster.
The good thing about these projects is that they won't take several months and thousands of dollars to completeand you can actually turn them into one of your DIY projects. Let's take a look at the top improvements you can make to sell your home fast.
1. Repainting
One of the easiest and exciting projects you can start with is repainting your home. Interestingly, it is also the lowest home improvement project that yields one of the higher ROIs.
Start by giving your home a fresh coat of neutral paint. This step provides the house with a simple and safe look that will also serve as a blank canvas for potential buyers to work with. When repainting, make sure to consider your home's lighting and other fixtures. These factors can be tricky at times, so it is also wise to consult with a professional painter. As for the color choices, gray is your safest bet.
2. Updating Landscaping
When was the last time you landscaped your yard? Since you are planning to sell your home, there is no better time to do so than now. Curb appeal is everything when it comes to selling your home! Landscaping is crucial since it involves your home's exterior. Your back and front yard are the first things that will impress or dismay prospective buyers.
Start by removing dead leaves and twigs. Cut down overgrown grass. If there are patchy areas, make sure to fill them up with fresh grass. Plant some grass seeds or re-sod your lawn. You may also consider edging your lawn to highlight the spaces.
3. Updating Flooring
After taking care of your lawn, you can move indoors and work on your home's flooring. In case you have different types of flooring for your various rooms, you may want to consider replacing them with new ones of the same type. New tile will help create a more seamless look.
Some of your best flooring options include wood or faux wood floors. A simple refinishing can do wonders for hardwood floors. These are excellent options, though they may cost you a little bit more compared to carpeting your home. If you are on a tight budget, carpeting is a good alternative. Make sure to stick to a neutral color, though.
4. Updating Bathrooms
Another key area that homebuyers pay attention to is the bathroom. Consider updating your old countertops with natural stone. You can also update the tiling, or you can update the doors by opting for a frameless glass type. Take down any old cabinets and replace them with new ones that go well with modern sinks and a tub.
Pro Tip: To create a seamless look, make sure all of the fixtures in your bathroom are the same finish. To be even more thorough, match all the fixtures in your home (including the kitchen and door handles) to the same finish.
5. Changing Lighting
Last but not least, you should consider updating your home's lighting fixtures. You don't need to spend a fortune on new lights. The key is to keep the colors consistent with your house's hardware whenever you are choosing ceiling fixtures, chandeliers, or pendant lights. Also, make sure that your light bulb temperature choice stays consistent throughout your home.
Do you have chrome items at home? Complement it with some brushed nickel lighting. The same thing goes for copper and oiled bronze fixtures. On the flip side, avoid mixing silver and gold tones. Avoid brass lighting fixtures as they will make your home look dated. Brass was a favorite among homeowners back in the 80s and 90s, but if you're selling to a younger crowd, stick to the newer-looking fixtures.
Other Improvements to Sell Your Home Quickly:
- Add a half bath.
- Add a walk-in closet.
- Seal your driveway.
- Replace old windows.
How Much Can You Make Selling Your House Quickly with Improvements?
Real estate experts and home stagers say that for every dollar you put into your house, it should translate to an additional 15% increase after the sale. This number can also increase, depending on the area you are updating. The time of year and location of your home will also help determine the value of your home after repairs.
Other Tips to Sell Your Home Fast
- Declutter
- Take Good Pictures or Use Professional Photography
- Improve Curb Appeal
- Depersonalize
- Furniture
- Stage Your Home
- Be Flexible
- Time Your Sale Right
- Price Your Home Right
Tip #1: Declutter
Clearing out clutter is essential to make your home appear more spacious and appealing to potential buyers. Remove personal items, excessive furniture, and any unnecessary belongings to create a clean and organized environment.
Tip #2: Take Good Pictures or Use Professional Photography
High-quality photos can significantly enhance your listing and attract more attention from buyers online. Invest in professional photography or use a high-resolution camera to capture the best features of your home in natural light.
Tip #3: Improve Curb Appeal
First impressions matter, so focus on improving the exterior of your home to attract buyers from the moment they arrive. Enhance curb appeal by mowing the lawn, trimming hedges, adding colorful plants, and refreshing the paint or siding as needed.
Tip #4: Depersonalize
Create a neutral canvas for potential buyers by removing personal items such as family photos, religious artifacts, and quirky decor. Depersonalizing your home allows buyers to envision themselves living there and makes it easier for them to imagine their own belongings in the space.
Tip #5: Furniture
Arrange furniture to highlight the functionality and flow of each room. Avoid overcrowding and ensure that furniture placement maximizes space and emphasizes the best features of your home.
Tip #6: Stage Your Home
Staging involves strategically arranging furniture, decor, and accessories to showcase your home's potential and appeal to a wide range of buyers. Consider hiring a professional stager or following staging tips to create an inviting atmosphere that resonates with buyers.
Tip #7: Be Flexible
Flexibility is key when it comes to selling your home quickly. Accommodate potential buyers' schedules for showings, be open to negotiation, and consider reasonable offers to keep the sales process moving forward.
Tip #8: Time Your Sale Right
Understanding the local real estate market and timing your sale accordingly can increase your chances of selling quickly. How many houses are on the market? How many days have they been listed? This will give you an idea about how fast or slow you can expect the process to be. You should also look at comparable homes with similar features in your neighborhood and find out their selling prices and property values. You can use sources like the National Association of Realtors and the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). With a cash buyer, there’s no need to do research on the competition. You’ll get a fair offer for your home without having to waste time analyzing the market.
Tip #9: Price Your Home Right
Pricing your home competitively from the start is crucial for attracting buyers and generating interest. Of course, you’d like to make money by selling your house, and you may have an emotional attachment to it that makes it more valuable to you. But you should avoid focusing on the previous value of the house and making a sentimental decision. It’s all about the market. In a hot market, where buyers outnumber sellers, you can get away with pricing your home more aggressively. In a cold market, where buyers have more houses to choose from, you should stick to at or below market value. The market doesn’t matter with a cash buyer. Whether the current climate is in favor of the buyer or seller, a cash buyer will pay you what your home is worth.
What Is the Fastest Way to Sell a House?
It’s no contest: The fastest way to sell a house is by selling it to a cash buyer.
Cash buyers can close the deal on your home faster than if you hired a real estate agent, listed your home on the MLS, sold the house yourself, or put up your property for auction. Selling a home to a cash buyer is simple and fast—there’s no need to make repairs or upgrades, stage the home for buyers, wait on the buyer’s bank approval, or go through an inspection. Instead, you can sell the property as-is in a matter of days.
And, in addition to the quick selling process, there are other benefits of cash offers:
- No need to do an appraisal
- Skip the cost and hassle of repairs and upgrades
- Fewer closing costs
- Less stress
- Save money on commission fees
- Guaranteed timing
Partner with a local cash buyer like New Again Houses to discover the quickest way to sell a house.
Sell Your Home Fast to the Cash Buyers at New Again Houses
At New Again Houses, we buy, fully remodel, and sell homes to new families to enjoy for years to come. We specialize in selling your home quick, but unlike other cash buyers, we will never sell your contract or your information—so you can trust us to restore your old home and give it the love it needs.
We’ve been in the business of helping local homeowners sell their homes since 2008. Based in Bristol, TN, and serving homeowners nationwide, the New Again Houses team would love the opportunity to invest in the community by making your older home new again.
Together, we transform not only houses but also the lives of our clients.
Are you ready to sell your house fast, get a cash offer, and close in a matter of days? Contact us today to get started.
