15 Essential Tips to Sell Your House Fast
Easy, down-to-earth tips to get your house ready and sold before you know it.
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Thinking about selling your home? The best time is when the weather’s sweet and the garden’s looking its finest. But getting your house sold fast takes a bit more than just good timing. With these 15 easy-to-follow tips, you’ll have your place looking sharp and ready to catch buyers’ eyes, so you can move on to your next adventure sooner than you think.
15 Tips to Sell Your House Quickly
Whether you wish to sell your house right away or are considering selling in the near future, here are some simple tips for a more successful sale.
- Don’t start a remodel or new project. But do repair whatever is broken, big or small—especially potential hazards like decrepit cellar stairs or a roof that needs replacing (for example, if it contains asbestos). See tips on how to find a good roofer.
- If you have any peeling paint, peeling wallpaper, or areas that need touch-ups, such as a stair banister, address these so it’s clear that the house has been well-maintained.
- Make small rooms look bigger by putting excess furniture into storage, such as a corner desk. Another good trick is to add a mirror in the corner (where you might have put framed art).
- Remember that many houses today are first seen online, so you must prioritize how the house will be photographed. Most house hunters observe the living room first, then the kitchen and bathroom.
- Eliminate clutter from shelves, closets, and drawers. Buyers want to see your house, not your stuff. Go room by room and clear it out! Start selling whatever can be sold and donate the rest. There are many websites where you can post “free stuff” and have someone pick up your items.
- Big closets in the master bedroom are a strong selling point. Make a positive impression with neat closet storage, good lighting, and clothes that are neatly hung or folded. If your closet is overflowing, remove some clothing so that it will appear more spacious.
- Depersonalize rooms wherever possible. Those photos of Junior from kindergarten may be adorable, but stash them away when it’s time to show your house.
- Remove any holiday decorations. No dried-out wreaths in March, please!
- Dust, vacuum, and scrub every room, with extra attention to kitchens and bathrooms. Shine windows, polish fixtures, and wipe down surfaces so everything feels fresh and well cared for.
- Don’t forget the exterior. Power-wash the patio, front porch, and house exterior if needed—you can rent a power-washer at any home improvement store. Also, fill and reseal driveway cracks if necessary.
- Plant flowers. If gardening isn’t your thing, containers of blooming annuals add bright, easy color. Or display fresh-cut flower arrangements.
- Let the light in! Buyers love bright spaces. Open curtains or shades, replace burned-out bulbs, add lamps, or increase wattage in fixtures to make dark rooms feel bigger.
- Remove your pets during showings. A barking dog can be distracting, and scared animals may pose a safety risk to agents and buyers.
- Make yourself and your family scarce. Buyers prefer to explore a home on their own. Trust your broker to handle the showing.
- Promote pleasant smells. Bake a pie or bread on showing day, or light a subtly scented candle. Be sure to remove unpleasant odors, like those from a cat’s litter box.
Need home improvement tips? See our articles on How Much Do You Need: Wallpaper and How Much Paint Do I Need? And also find out how to repair a hole in the drywall.
Do you have any other suggestions on readying your house to sell? Please share your comments below!
