1. Hire the Best Real Estate Agent You Can Find

…and then follow their advice. Full-time and experienced Realtors are trained professionals whose business is to sell homes and understand the local market conditions. A great Realtor can help you determine the right strategy for selling your home by helping you set the right price, tell you what repairs and cosmetic changes you can make to help you sell faster and guide you through the process step-by-step through closing and beyond.

2. Set the Right Price

As we say, “price sells.” If a home is perceived to be overpriced by potential buyers it will be overlooked and will sit on the market for longer than necessary. The rule of thumb for selling a house fast is to set a price that is within 3-5% of other homes in the neighborhood (although this is a changing factor based on market trends). If you have hired a Realtor, they will know what other houses in your area have sold for and what the ideal pricing strategy is to get your home sold.

3. It Is All About Great Curb Appeal and Great Marketing

Thanks to the internet, most buyers will rule out your home before they ever set foot through your front door. Don’t underestimate the value of the cosmetic appeal of the outside of your home, the importance of staging and the quality of photography and video. No matter how wonderful the inside of your house is, if it’s wrapped up in a shabby package and poor surroundings, then you’ll have a much more difficult time selling it. Take the time to fix up the outside of your house to show its best face to the world.

4. Make It Easier For Potential Buyers to Picture Themselves in Your House

The moment you commit to selling your home, you need to commit to transforming your home into a place that potential buyers can easily picture as their own. This means you need to be prepared to emotionally detach, declutter, depersonalize and perhaps restyle. Great staging helps this process in 3 key ways:

• Staging accentuates all of your home’s positive features while distracting buyers from perceived negatives.
• Staging will emphasize the space and its functionality making it easier for buyers to envision how that space will work for them.
• Study after study demonstrates that staged homes sell quicker and for more money.

There is never a second chance to make a first impression.