How to Sell Your House Quickly

Need to sell your house now? Here's what you'll need to do to get a buyer's signature quickly.

Things You'll Need

• A real estate agent
• Perhaps some handyman skills

Instructions

1. Hire a professional to act on your behalf, especially if you have little or no time or real estate expertise. Sellers who need quick results must be willing to pay a premium for this. Agents will be able to get your property listed in places that you likely cannot, at least in a short-term time frame.

2. Keep your house as clean as possible at all times. You may want to consider removing clutter like bric-a-brac or antique collections so that potential buyers can better visualize their own belongings in the home.

3. Price the house to sell. You don't necessarily have to take a huge loss on the property in order to move it quickly, but don't expect to receive a premium on a deal you want to close this month. Base your price on comparable properties that have sold recently. If your buyer needs cash for closing costs, you can raise the price slightly and then refund the cash at closing.

4. Paying a fee to get your house preinspected is also smart. This allows you to offer your house as "certified preowned." This will prevent potential buyers from finding a list of repairs that need to be made and demanding a commensurate reduction in price. This also allows you to make repairs at your convenience instead of under a tight deadline before closing.

5. Offer a home warranty that guarantees repair or replacement of home fixtures or appliances that break or break down for up to a year after they buy the property. This sort of warranty generally costs about $500, but can be a very worthwhile investment. Visit the National Home Service Contract Association (NHSCA) website for more information (see Resources below).

Resources

• NHSCA