A study by Ipsos revealed that almost 80% of people find selling a house stressful. If you’re gearing up for a move, you may be approaching the process of putting your home on the market with mixed emotions. Moving is exciting, but it’s no secret that buying and selling real estate can be a roller coaster ride. Every vendor dreams of a quick, hassle-free sale. In this guide, we’ll outline some easy ways to find a buyer fast. 

Prepare your home for sale

The first thing to do when you decide to put your home up for sale is to get it ready. Making it look more attractive, finishing off DIY jobs and staging the property can all enhance saleability and add value. It’s important to prepare your house for sale before you invite agents to value it or take photographs for online listings and brochures. Prospective buyers will make decisions and form impressions based on galleries and video tours. If your home doesn’t look its best, you run the risk of them losing interest before they even see the house in the flesh. 

Before you sell, make a list of jobs to do and work your work through it. Simple tasks, like touching up paintwork, hanging shelves, decluttering, adding plants and flowers and cleaning countertops and floors, can make a big difference to buyers. 

Market your home effectively

In an ideal world, buyers would flock to your property as soon as the for sale sign goes up, but in the vast majority of cases, you have to invest time and money in marketing. Marketing in real estate is all about spreading the word, finding interested parties, and encouraging them to view the property, make an offer or recommend it to a client or a friend or family member who is looking for a new home. 

In most cases, people hire real estate agents to market their homes for them. If you’re following this path, spend time researching agencies and look for one that has a proven track record in your area. View sample listings, brochures and guides, meet with agents, and see what different agencies offer in terms of marketing and promotion. Ask questions about client lists and contacts and view case studies. Ideally, you want to find an agent who already has clients who will be interested in your home to find a buyer and close the deal swiftly.

If you’re not using a real estate agent to sell your home, think carefully about how you’re going to market it and locate buyers. Online portals offer a platform to add listings and you can also look into options, such as printing fliers, hosting open house events and advertising in local newspapers and magazines. Word-of-mouth can also be powerful in neighborhoods where the demand for housing is high or there’s a gap between demand and supply. Negotiating a private sale could save you time and money. 

Consider alternative ways to sell

We tend to think about hiring a realtor automatically when we sell our homes, but there are alternatives. One option that may be appealing if speed is a priority and you’re looking for a simple and hassle-free sale is to use a home buying service. If you choose your location and put in a search term like sell my house, you’ll find agencies that buy properties in their current condition for cash. Typically, the process is much shorter and there are no other parties involved. You can contact the company, arrange a visit, get an offer and have the money in your account within days or weeks. This option isn’t for everyone, but it can provide a solution if you’re keen to move as quickly as possible. 

Time your sale right

People sell their homes for different reasons. Sometimes, sellers need to move fast or at short notice. In other cases, people want a change of scenery or to explore different areas or types of properties. If you’re not in a rush to move, waiting to sell at the right time can be hugely beneficial. If the demand for housing in your neighborhood is high, it should be easier to find a buyer and the process should be quicker. If the demand is low, or there are lots of other properties up for sale at the same time, it can take a lot longer to find a buyer. Low demand for housing and falling prices will also impact your profits. 

It’s wise to research the housing market before you decide whether or not to put your home up for sale. If the market is healthy and buoyant, demand is rising, and prices are increasing, these are positive signs. If the demand is falling, prices are going down and it’s taking longer to sell, consider waiting. 

Make sure the price is competitive

Most people will use filters to find properties within their budget when searching for a new home. Getting the asking price right can make the difference between luring buyers in and putting them off. If you pitch the starting price far above the valuation, you may struggle to generate interest. If you go too low, you could miss out on a substantial amount of money. Making the price competitive can help you entice buyers. The best ways to price your home to sell include comparing multiple valuations, researching local sale prices, and monitoring the local market. If a similar property is for sale on the same street at a lower price, you’ll find it hard to compete. 

The state of the market will influence starting prices. If properties are being snapped up within hours or days, you can be bolder with the asking price. If the market is slow, or prices are tumbling, it’s beneficial to be more conservative. 

Selling a property can be stressful, especially if it takes a long time to find a buyer or deals fall through. If you’re ready to put your home on the market, it’s useful to follow some simple steps to help you find a buyer fast. These include preparing your home for sale, marketing your property effectively, exploring different buying options, choosing the right time to sell, and making sure the price is competitive.