In the real estate world, timing can significantly affect the selling process and the final sale price of your home. Whether you are facing a personal situation that necessitates a quick sale, or you are trying to capitalize on a seller's market, understanding how to expedite the selling process without compromising on price is essential. 

To get the best and most timely information, we spoke to Dustin Parker. Dustin Parker is the founder and CEO of the Parker Group, a thriving brokerage of nearly 100 professionals and over $200 million in sales volume. We combined this with advice from other real estate pros to give you a complete guide to selling your home fast.

According to Parker, “To sell a house quickly, the most important step is to price it competitively based on a thorough market analysis.” But, of course, that all begins with a solid understanding of the real estate market.

Understanding the Real Estate Market

U.S. News Real Estate reports that the average home spends 22 days on the market. But averages can be misleading — real estate is hyper-local. Market conditions and local trends should make a big impact on your expectations.

Market Conditions

The speed at which you can sell your home often hinges on local market conditions rather than national. In 2024, CNBC reported that the hottest markets were in the South, Northeast, and Midwest. In other words, more affordable locations had become a seller’s market — and high-population, high-cost areas were trending downward.

Homes may sell extremely quickly in a seller's market, where demand exceeds supply. Conversely, selling may take longer in a buyer's market where available listings outnumber buyers.

Parker notes that, generally, “more people are choosing to stay in their homes longer, likely due to market volatility and rising costs of moving.” So, depending on your location, you may find that properties are taking longer to sell — because people are simply moving less.

Analyzing Local Trends

To understand your local market, examine current trends, such as average days on the market (DOM), listing prices versus selling prices, and the number of active listings. Tools like MLS (Multiple Listing Service), real estate websites, and local realtors can provide valuable insights regarding your potential sale. Real estate agents have deep access and knowledge of your local real estate trends and will be able to give you a good idea of where you stand.

Preparing Your Home for Sale

How long should it take to prepare your home for sale? What repairs and updates are essential — and which are a waste of time? A lot of this depends on the current state of your property. Let’s look at a few of the most common preparations, along with the factors you should consider before investing your time and money.

Curb Appeal

First impressions matter. Enhancing your home’s curb appeal can dramatically increase its attractiveness. Simple actions like painting the front door, maintaining the landscape, and ensuring clear, clean pathways can make a significant difference. A survey by OnePoll for TruGreen discovered that nearly half of GenZ and Millennial home buyers cited “curb appeal” as a reason for buying their home, with 75% of homeowners stating that how their home looked from the outside was important to them.

Repairs and Improvements

Addressing essential repairs and making strategic improvements can also speed up sales. Focus on high-return areas like the kitchen and bathroom. Fixing leaky faucets, replacing outdated hardware, and ensuring all electrical and plumbing systems are in good working order are also important. Many of these issues will be caught in a home inspection regardless and may consequently delay a sale.

Staging

Staging your home effectively can make it more appealing to potential buyers. This might involve decluttering, rearranging furniture, and adding neutral decor to help buyers envision themselves in the space. 

But Parker has a bit of a caveat: “Don't spend money on staging. Virtual and augmented reality technologies are revolutionizing the home buying and selling experience. Immersive virtual tours, 3D floor plans, and augmented staging allow buyers to visualize properties realistically, streamlining the decision-making process and reducing the need for in-person showings.”

Setting the Right Price

Pricing your home competitively is perhaps the most critical factor in a quick sale. Price it too high, and you risk deterring potential buyers; too low, and you may not get the home's worth.

Parker says, “Many rely on online estimates, which can sometimes be misleading. It's always beneficial to get a professional appraisal or consult a real estate expert for a more accurate assessment.”

Market Analysis

Your real estate agent will conduct a comparative market analysis (CMA) to determine the appropriate listing price. This analysis compares your home to similar properties in the area that have recently sold or are currently on the market. Because real estate is always influx and always changing, there’s really no “objective value” to a home. Comparative market analyses are indicators of what your home could sell for.

Appraisals

Home prices can rise quite fast. According to the Washington Post, home prices across the United States increased by 54% from 2019 to 2024. So, even if you have a fairly recent appraisal, it may not be accurate any longer. In general, it’s better to leave appraisals up to the buyer. They’ll conduct an appraisal after the offer to ensure that their bank can provide a mortgage for the property. 

Marketing Your Home

In today's digital age, online presence is vital. Listing your property on popular real estate platforms, utilizing social media to generate buzz, and considering professional photography and virtual tours can attract a broader audience.

Real Estate Agents

A skilled real estate agent can enhance your marketing efforts, offering access to exclusive platforms and networks, and providing valuable pricing and negotiation expertise. It’s only fairly recently that so many people have decided to “go it on their own” when selling their house. 

According to the National Association of Realtors, 75% of “For Sale By Owner” (FSBO) homes sell within two weeks — but that can be misleading. Most FSBO homes are being sold to someone the seller knows, such as a parent selling a home to a child. If you’re trying to sell your home on the open market, it’s more likely that you will need a real estate professional to sell your house fast. 

Photography

“Investing in high-quality photography can make a significant difference in attracting buyers,” explains Parker. “Exceptional photos highlight the home's best features and can drive more interest and showings.”

If you want to sell fast, you may want to invest in professional photography before you invest in staging. Many people are browsing homes online — and they’ll latch onto yours if your photographs give them a reason to. 

Showing Your Home

If you’ve ever sold a home before, you know that showing your home is one of the most time-consuming stages. Coldwell Real Estate estimates that you may go through 10 to 25 showings before you secure a buyer. If you want to sell your house fast, you need to get those buyers into your home quickly. A real estate agent can help.

Open Houses

Both open houses and private showings are effective ways to engage directly with potential buyers. They provide an opportunity to showcase the best features of your home and allow buyers to visualize living there. But open houses may be your best bet if you really want to sell fast. Your real estate agent can help you coordinate large open houses that can get more buyers in the door — and thus get you offers faster.

Schedule showings during times when your home looks its best, considering natural lighting and the day of the week. Ensure the house is clean, tidy, and odor-free. Personal items should be stored away to allow buyers to imagine themselves in the space.

Negotiations

Negotiating your home's sale requires understanding potential buyers' motivations and being flexible without compromising your bottom line. This is an area in which your real estate agent will frequently shine, as they are able to negotiate on your behalf. 

Of course, if you dislike negotiations, the process of finding the right agent could be intimidating on its own. Redy makes it easy to find qualified real estate agents — just create an account, and you’ll be sent a list of agents interested in representing you. You can even get a cash reward for listing your home!

Alternative Selling Strategies

Because you want to sell your house fast, you may start to consider some alternative selling strategies — such as cash buyers. While these options can make it faster to sell your house, there are pros and cons to each strategy. Investors and buyers who are interested in buying houses quickly are usually interested in very specific properties and usually won’t pay the market rate.

Cash Buyers and Real Estate Investors

Considering cash buyers or real estate investors can be advantageous for those needing to sell quickly. These buyers typically offer a faster closing process and require fewer inspections and no mortgage contingencies.

While this method can speed up the sale, it often comes at a cost. Cash offers are typically lower than the market value, so weighing the speed of sale against potential financial returns is essential.

Cash Purchasing Platforms

Per Parker, “Innovative real estate models and technology are making waves, offering new ways for consumers to buy, sell, and manage properties.” There are now platforms that let you sell your home directly to an investor — just click a few buttons and sign a few forms, and you’ll be handing over the keys.

There’s no denying that “we buy your home fast” platforms have skyrocketed in usage. But they’re not always the right choice for everyone. Cash purchasing platforms will provide you with a flat offer for your home, in the interest of letting you sell fast. The caveat is that you’ll usually make less money with a cash purchasing platform than you would otherwise; while you won’t pay for real estate commissions, you will usually pay upfront for everything they need to get the home in turn-key condition. In other words, they’ll frequently have you offer concessions for the necessary repairs: roofs, foundations, and so forth.

Auctioning Your Home

Selling a home at auction is another strategy that can expedite the selling process. This method can stir up interest and competition among buyers, potentially leading to a quick sale at a good price. But it’s usually only done if you’re liquidating an estate, going through bankruptcy, or heading toward foreclosure. 

Here, a real estate agent can still help — because the process is extremely complicated. You also need to be prepared for any outcome, as auctions can be unpredictable. You may find yourself swallowing quite a low selling price. 

The Selling Process

Realistically, there are a few things you can do to speed up the actual process of the sale. Real estate sales go fairly slowly for good reason: There are a lot of things that need to be checked and double-checked. So, throughout the selling process, what you really want to do is make sure nothing goes wrong.

Legal and Administrative Aspects

Understanding the legal and administrative requirements of selling a home is critical. This includes everything from ensuring your title deeds are in order to the local real estate laws, which can vary significantly by location. Your real estate agent is, again, indispensable, because they can help you walk through this process.

Documentation

Selling a property fast is all about avoiding delays. Ensure all necessary documents are ready and accessible. These might include the original sales contract, proof of home improvements, warranty documents, and recent utility bills. Having these documents organized can expedite the process once a buyer is found. Frequently, a property will hit escrow, and suddenly, there’s some kind of document that can’t be located — it holds up the rest of the sale.

Closing the Sale

According to Rocket Mortgage, the whole process of selling a home, including closing, usually takes 30 to 45 days. The closing process finalizes the sale and transfers ownership to the buyer. This stage involves significant paperwork and the coordination of various parties, including real estate agents, lawyers, and bankers.

Typical steps include the buyer conducting a final walk-through, the exchange of documents such as the deed and mortgage papers, and the transfer of funds. Ensure you understand all legal requirements and potential delays, such as financing.

Most commonly, the sale will get delayed on the buyer’s side. Their financing may fall through, the appraisal may come short, or there may be last-minute issues with credit reports and tax returns. It’s not unusual for a closing to be delayed. From your side, all you can do is keep open lines of communication.

Conclusion

Selling your home quickly requires a mix of preparation, effective marketing, and understanding the local real estate market dynamics. By enhancing the appearance of your home, pricing it right, employing strategic marketing, and being prepared for negotiations, you can significantly increase the likelihood of a swift sale. Each home and market is unique, so tailor these strategies to your situation for the best results.

While the pressure to sell quickly can be intense, taking a methodical approach can help maintain control over the process, ensuring you not only sell fast but also secure a fair price for your home. Remember, the goal is not just to sell quickly, but to do so in a way that maximizes both your financial outcome and satisfaction with the sale.

If you want to sell your home fast, the best day to start is today. Create a property profile on Redy now to start your journey.

Jenna Inouye is a professional freelance writer specializing in the areas of real estate, technology, and finance. Her professional experience extends to her work in property management, accounting, and brick-and-mortar retail, as well as a substantial background in journalism and thought leadership for businesses and high-net-worth individuals.

Dustin Parker, founder and CEO of The Parker Group, is a successful entrepreneur and contrarian thinker making waves in the real estate industry. When he's not dreaming up new ways to revolutionize real estate, you can find Dustin at his local CrossFit gym, rooting for the Miami Dolphins, and cherishing moments with his wife Rachel and their adventure-loving kids, Ford and Avery.