So, you wanted to sell your house. Give it two or three months tops, and you might sell it to the next rightful owner. However, given the nuances and saturation of today’s market, you may feel the demand to sell your house in under 30 days. This is surely a challenging feat only a seasoned seller will pull off.
Fortunately, with the right strategy, you might find yourself sealing the deal before you turn the calendar. That is what this article is also about. Below are 14 key steps for homeowners looking to sell their property in 30 days or under.
1. Price It Right
One of the most important factors in selling a house quickly is setting the right listing price from the outset. Overpricing is one of the biggest mistakes sellers make, especially if aiming for a speedy sale. Your listing price should be informed by recent comparable sales in your neighborhood. For example, if you are selling a house located in Los Angeles, having a competitive price communicates that you are a motivated seller, thus attracting cash buyers Los Angeles.
At the same time, don’t underprice significantly with the hopes of sparking a bidding war. This may backfire by attracting lowball offers instead. Price it fairly based on market value, with some room for negotiation. The ideal listing price sweet spot is around 3-5% below comparable properties.
2. Prepare The Property Cosmetically
A rapid home sale starts with a great visual presentation. Make minor renovations and touch-ups to get your property in the best shape possible before listing it. Clean thoroughly, declutter, remove clutter, and depersonalize by taking down family photos and the like.
Pay special attention to the curb appeal as this is the crucial first impression for potential buyers. Make the exterior and landscaping look pristine. Also, consider staging areas like the living room to showcase the space at its full potential
Invest in professional photography and virtual tours to provide buyers with a top-notch visual experience of your home online. Photos and videos have become vital marketing tools in real estate.
3. Perform Key Upgrades And Repairs
While you don’t need major remodeling, attending to repairs and upgrades makes buyers more inclined to accept your home’s asking price. Fix any leaking roofs, damaged flooring, peeling paint, cracked tiles, or broken appliances. Upgrade fixtures and finishes that look badly dated
A fresh coat of neutral-colored paint works wonders. Make the interior décor style more universally appealing. Investing a little money on fix-ups and upgrades can help buyers overlook other flaws and sell quickly.
4. Obtain Appraisal And Inspection Reports
Having current appraisal and inspection reports available upfront saves buyers time and trouble while instilling confidence in your property’s value. Pay a professional home inspector to evaluate major systems like the roof, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, etc. Fix any big issues uncovered.
Then, get an appraisal to support your pricing. Be prepared to lower the price if the appraisal value comes in noticeably lower. Having reports and disclosures ready demonstrates transparency and helps expedite the sales process.
5. Market Aggressively And Broadly
Marketing is key when aiming for a quick home sale. After listing on popular sites, go above and beyond. Leverage both traditional and digital marketing avenues.
Print flyers to distribute around the neighborhood. Post on community bulletin boards and social media groups. Take out ads in local classifieds and real estate magazines. Ask realtors to promote it to their network of qualified buyers.
Install a ‘For Sale by Owner’ sign prominently outside. Hold open houses every weekend. The more potential buyers are aware of your listing, the faster it sells. Cast a wide net through diverse marketing channels.
6. Be Flexible And Motivated
Preparing your home for a quick sale is one thing, but you also need the right mindset and willingness to get it done. Adopt a flexible approach and respond promptly to queries, showings requests, and offers.
Be accommodating of potential buyers’ needs regarding show timings, moving dates, inspection requirements, and more. Saying ‘yes’ more often removes roadblocks in complex transactions.
Sellers who seem motivated and eager to get to the closing table have an advantage in negotiations. Reasonable offers need to be considered, even if they are below the asking price. Make use of incentives like covering closing costs or appliances to encourage buyers.
7. List At The Right Time
Timing the listing right enables visibility among the largest pool of active buyers. Spring and fall are typically peak seasons for real estate, fueled by seasonal trends, weather, and school calendars.
Avoid listing right before big holidays when families are distracted. Also, factor in local events or vacations that may impact the presence of potential buyers.
Of course, in today’s market with growing non-seasonal demand, a properly priced and marketed home can sell year-round. However, the bulk of buyers are still influenced by the usual seasonal cycles.
8. Start The Closing Preparations Early
Once you receive an offer, work diligently and promptly through the closing process. Begin gathering paperwork and financial records that will be required for closing – tax documents, HOA documents, title policy, etc.
Getting inspections done proactively prevents last-minute surprises. Resolve inspection issues quickly versus dragging negotiations. If buyers know you’re organized and ready to close quickly, they will be less likely to drag their feet or delay.
9. Understand The Buyer’s Motivation
Why does the buyer need to purchase quickly? This could be relocating for a new job, pregnancy, change in family situation, etc. When you understand their motivation, you can use it to develop terms or offers that enable a quick sale.
For instance, renting back the home to the sellers for a short period after closing may make your listing more enticing to buyers who need to move in immediately. Closing sooner may be worth offering a buyer credit or discount for a buyer with time urgency.
10. Hire A Top-Notch Real Estate Agent
Attempting to sell in 30 days or less without help is often an exercise in futility. Engage a real estate agent with intimate knowledge of your local market. They can price it competitively, market efficiently, screen buyers better, power negotiations, and remove obstacles to close faster.
Agents have access to MLS listings to find comparable sales. They have relationships with other agents to spread the word fast. Today’s buyers rely heavily on agents to find and vet home options. A mere For Sale sign often won’t cut it anymore.
11. Be Prepared To Make Some Compromises
If you want to minimize days on the market, it requires commitment, effort, resources, and likely some tradeoffs. You may have to reduce the price from initial expectations. Accept an offer below the asking price but with good terms.
Waive contingencies and leasebacks to give buyers confidence. Take a loss by selling to an iBuyer or investor versus a retail buyer. Weigh if quick cash and simplicity are worth more than top dollar.
12. Underpromise On Closing Date
When establishing the target closing date in the purchase agreement, pad the timeline by a few days or a week. This gives some buffer in case unexpected delays crop up in final walkthroughs, paperwork, and funding.
An ambitious three-week deadline could turn into a disappointing four weeks if closings drag, but a four-week timeline closing at three weeks makes buyers happy. Build in some wiggle room.
13. Make Concessions Over Repairs
When buyers request repairs or credits for deficiencies found during inspections, carefully consider accepting. Minor concessions or credits may be worth it to prevent contract delays versus refusing and having the buyer walk away.
For home renovations or upgrades, offering a buyer credit may make more sense than taking on repairs yourself if time is of the essence. Any refusals may stall momentum, so pick your battles wisely.
14. Stay Calm And Patient
Finally, maintain realistic expectations and patience. Selling in less than 30 days requires many elements aligning just right and is still an ambitious goal in most housing markets. If it takes 2-3 weeks longer, don’t fret.
Focus your energy on what you can control—sensible pricing, thorough marketing, motivated negotiating, and diligent follow-through. With the right prep work, mindset, and real estate agent partnership, you can maximize the chances of a fast home sale.
In Conclusion
As highlighted, there are many key factors you must consider if you want to sell your house in under a month. Sure, it involves effort, preparation, and a little bit of compromise on your end. But, at the end of the day, sealing the deal quickly is what matters most. By following the tips above, you can maximize your chances of a speedy sale and get all your property’s worth.
