If you find yourself punching “how fast will my home sell?” into your search bar, you’re not alone. Most home sellers want their home sale process to be quick and painless. Fortunately, the current market is on your side — 84% of recent listings have stayed on the market for less than one month as of February 2022, with homes receiving more offers compared to the same time last year. Of course, local market conditions matter, as does the condition of your home and whether you work with an agent or choose to sell to a direct buyer. If you have your heart set on a fast sale, you might seek out a direct buyer instead of going the more traditional route of working with an agent. Direct buyers generally purchase property for cash so they can do some work on the home and resell it quickly for a profit. In fact, many of these transactions can happen within a week rather than the 30 to 45 days that most traditional home closings can take. In exchange for a cash sale and a very fast closing, direct buyers usually will tend to net you less than if you sold with a top agent. However, selling to a direct buyer is often an excellent method for property owners who are looking to sell quickly and with less stress. This can be particularly helpful if you’ve inherited a property or are moving because of a divorce. An easy way to obtain a quick all-cash offer is through HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform. Just type in your address and answer a few simple questions. We’ll help you maximize your sale with a cash offer in as few as 48 hours that allows you to forego repairs, prep work and open houses and avoids additional fees, commissions, or upfront costs. According to recent data published by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 90% of home sellers worked with a real estate agent to sell their home. And it’s no wonder — there are plenty of great reasons to work with an agent. First, real estate agents thoroughly understand how to prepare and price a house or condo to sell quickly in your geographical area. They’ll be able to provide insight on how to upgrade your home, prioritize needed repairs, stage your home for photos and showings, and — crucially — know how to price your home for your market and selling goals. Second, agents are experts at marketing houses, making sure your listing is reaching potential buyers. The more people who see your home, the better chance you have of selling quickly. “If you have it listed with a Realtor, [your home] gets so much more exposure” says Tracy Young, a real estate agent at 1st Choice Properties. In addition to listing to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), agents may use social networking and share listings to reach your target buyers. “It just gets an exponentially larger audience.” Not sure where to start your search for the right agent to sell your home fast? Just check out HomeLight’s Agent Matching platform. We’ll look at factors like your property and neighborhood to put you in touch with the best top agent in your area who specializes in home sales like yours. What’s more, our data shows the top 5% of agents across the U.S. help clients sell their home for as much as 10% more than the average real estate agent. Market conditions directly affect how fast your home will sell. 2021 saw a seller’s market where 29% of buyers paid more than the asking price when they purchased their property. And that trend will likely continue. In a recent HomeLight survey, 83% of agents said they expect 2022 to remain a seller’s market. Although the market is currently tipped in the seller’s favor, you have to keep a close eye on the constantly changing trends so you can adapt if needed. Here are a few ways the market conditions will affect how fast your home will sell: Additionally, keep in mind that buyer expectations may have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic began. If you work with a top agent, they can help you determine whether your ideal buyer wants amenities like a home office or a nice backyard to expand their living space, and can help you market your home with those preferences in mind Once you’ve identified your target audience, you can focus on how the condition of your property will affect how fast your home will sell. Many buyers dream of purchasing a move-in ready home. However, buyers will be flexible when they need to. In 2021, as many as 29% of buyers waived their inspection contingency and 88% did not request that their seller make any repairs. In other words, in a seller’s market, buyers are often willing to buy the property even if it needs some TLC. That’s not to say that all homebuyers are looking for fixer uppers. Some property issues like plumbing, electricity, and HVAC problems must be fixed, and can even hold up a home sale. It’s important that you focus on the right fixes before putting your home on the market. Remember not to neglect curb appeal — first impressions matter! Recent data shows that spending just under $3500 to boost curb appeal can earn almost $12,000 in additional sale price. Investing a little money in landscaping and a fresh coat of exterior paint can really drive up your listing price. In addition to boosting curb appeal, your home’s interior needs to be cleaned, decluttered, and ready for photos and viewings. When done well, cleaning out your home can increase its value by up to 5%. As an accredited home stager, Young knows this process well, but she’s also aware that her clients that want to sell their home fast might be on a budget. “I try not to do anything expensive…but if you can get [the buyer] to love it online, they’re probably going to make an appointment to come and see it.” Once your home is cleaned and staged, you and your Realtor can begin the marketing process by creating an eye-catching listing. This starts with phenomenal professional photography. 95% of recent homebuyers searched for homes online, so your listing really needs to stand out. Your agent will then use MLS, social media, and other marketing methods to reach as many members of your target audience as possible. If real estate’s golden rule is location, location, location, the second most important consideration may be an accurate listing price. A survey published in 2022 shows that 54% of buyers considered price the most important factor aside from location. HomeLight’s Home Value Estimator can be a great starting point for understanding your home’s current value. Simply tell us a little bit about your property (the address, type of property, its condition and the year it was built) and how soon you’re looking to sell. However, working with an agent, who will perform a comparative market analysis to hone in on a price, is still a great strategy.. In Young’s experience, if a home shows well and is priced according to the market, “I can usually get [the client] an offer in a maximum of three days.” As the seller, you make the final decision on whether to accept any offer, and that will involve balancing time and money. If a fast home sale is your ultimate goal, you may not walk away with as much than if you’re able to wait until an optimal time to sell or do not want to put any work into the house before putting it on the market. Selling a house or condo can be stressful. But partnering with a top agent and getting your home prepped correctly can go a long way to helping make sure your house doesn’t linger on the market. If you’re looking to sell quickly and without the need to fix or stage your home, consider a cash offer from HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform.Selling your house to a cash buyer
Working with a top agent
Market conditions and time on market
I try not to do anything expensive…but if you can get [the buyer] to love it online, they’re probably going to make an appointment to come and see it.
Factors to help your home sell faster
1. Updating and upgrading the condition of your property
2. Developing a staging and marketing strategy
3. Setting an appropriate listing price
4. Identifying your standards for accepting an offer
How fast will your home sell? It depends on you!
