In 2018, 5.5 million homes sold in the United States alone.

The real estate market remains a seller’s market and this may cause you to scratch your head wondering why your home isn’t selling as fast as you hoped.

Even though the demand for homes is high and supply is low, it doesn’t guarantee that your home will sell quickly. Financially selling a home is a complicated process, but knowing how to successfully sell a home involves a number of skills and marketing strategies.

When our homes are on the market, we all want them to sell as fast as possible while turning a profit. We want to seamlessly move from one chapter of our lives as quickly as possible.

So, how can you finally sell your home that stubbornly remaining on the market?

Read on to discover 8 essential tips for selling a home so that you can move on to your next life chapter.

Tips for Selling a Home Faster

Selling a home isn’t always as easy as posting a listing and seeing the offers swarm in. Sometimes it takes a little more effort to catch the right buyer’s eye. Explore the following tips for selling a home so that you can get your finances and life back in order.

1. Curb Appeal

The first thing a buyer notices when they pull up to look at your home is the exterior. The exterior of your home includes your landscaping, exterior paint, outdoor buildings, and the placement of your home on the lot.

Set aside some time and money to first improve your home’s curb appeal. When the exterior of your home is in beautiful condition, it gives potential buyers positive feelings prior to entering the home. A great first impression can lead to the buyer being more flexible about other imperfections.

To improve your curb appeal, start by landscaping. Cut down and trim overpowering plants such as bushes, add flowers, and mow the lawn.

If you can afford to paint the exterior, then it is highly recommended to do so. Buyers will immediately view a need for an exterior paint job as a reason to either not purchase the home or as a reason to offer you less money than your asking price.

At the very least, consider painting your door and improving outdoor fixtures and windows.

2. Interior Improvements

When a buyer enters your home you want them to get the sense that your home is well-maintained, clean, and “like new”.

To make your home feel fresh, give the walls a fresh coat of paint, wash the walls thoroughly, and have the carpet professionally cleaned. When painting or replacing any items opt for neutral tones.

You may not be able to afford upgrades which would make your home more appealing to buyers, and that’s okay. The important thing is to invest what you can into making small changes and improvements such as painting, cleaning, replacing fixtures and light bulbs, and fixing aesthetic damages such as dings in the wall.

3. Odor Control

In addition to cleaning your home for aesthetic purposes, you’ll also need to deep clean to address any odor problems. Not addressing odor before your home is shown could turn buyers away fearing that the smell may be somewhat unmanageable requiring more money to fix and replace items.

In some cases this may require new carpet or furnishings if this is where the odor is coming from.

If you can’t afford to replace these items, then hire a professional cleaning company to thoroughly clean them. Light a candle, invest in air fresheners and open the windows to allow new air in.

4. Purge

If your home feels cluttered, then it may be time to purge any unnecessary belongings.

When a buyer comes into your home, you want them to be able to easily imagine living there. To achieve this, you need to remove some of your personal belongings distracting buyers.

5. High-Quality Photos

If you have a real estate agent, then your agent may take on the job of taking photos of your home. Technology such as smartphone cameras make photography easier, but this doesn’t always translate to high-quality images.

Before your real estate agent posts any photos, make sure to view them for yourself.

Hiring a professional photographer to take the photos will also be a great investment. If this isn’t an expense you want to take on, then at least seek out a higher quality camera to take the photos yourself.

6. Pet Management

When your home has a showing, take your pet with you if possible. Your pet can serve as a distraction or make potential buyers uncomfortable. Seeing your pet also makes a buyer feel like your home is “well-lived in” instead of “almost like new.”

Make sure to also put away any pet-related items such as dog pets, litter boxes, and toys. Not only to eliminate pet odors, but also for organization and aesthetics.

7. Kitchen Attention

Pay close attention to the state of your kitchen. If you can afford a kitchen remodel, then this type of investment can certainly pay off.

If a remodel isn’t within your budget, then opt for quick fixes such as repainting the cabinets, re-tiling, and changing out the cabinet hardware. At a minimum, de-clutter your kitchen, deep clean it, and remove any distracting fixtures such as hanging pots as these can make your kitchen appear smaller with less storage.

8. Consider Your Options

Leave no stone unturned when it comes to selling your home. Research your selling options to get a broader understanding of how to sell your home fast. Some companies will even purchase your house with cash.

Make sure to also shop around for real estate agents to make sure they have your best interests at heart and will provide you with accurate advice.

Selling a Home with Confidence

The average time it takes to sell a home in the United States is 68 days. Be prepared when selling a home to allow for an additional grace period as well. With these tips, however, you can be confident that your home is in great selling condition and that you’re setting yourself up for success.

If you’re interested in completing quick and easy home upgrades to increase your chances of selling your home faster, then check out our blog post to learn more.