In a normal home sale, the median time on the market is 31 days. However, some homes take much longer to sell. Getting the jump on packing and tackling home projects early on can help you sell your house faster.

A good real estate agent can provide comparable prices in your neighborhood and offer expert advice on pricing your home. They can also help you negotiate offers and counter-offers.

Preparing Your Home for Sale

There are many things you can do to make your home more appealing to buyers, from painting the kitchen and baths to weeding the yard and mowing the grass. It is also a good idea to tour open houses and study listing photos online to learn what appeals to buyers so you can improve your house to match those trends.

It is critical to get your home in as close to move-in condition as possible. It may mean getting rid of clutter, touching up or replacing paint and removing family photos to depersonalize the space. It is important to declutter and clean your home for each showing so that it looks well-maintained and shows well in photos.

It is a good idea to get a pre-sale home inspection before you put your house on the market. This will give you a heads-up about items that could derail the sale, such as a ceiling stain or mold problem.

Marketing Your Home

Selling your home can be a highly emotional process. Strangers are going through your personal belongings, and you must keep in mind that they may criticize the home or your decorating skills. In addition, you must stay rational and focus on the business aspect of the transaction. It’s best to hire an agent who can help you navigate the complex world of real estate marketing.

You should advertise your listing in online real estate platforms, local newspapers, and social media. Posting on Facebook Marketplace is a great way to reach potential homebuyers in your area. Remember, buyers will make their first impression of your home within six seconds. Make sure that the first impression is a good one. A well-manicured lawn and curb appeal will go a long way towards selling your home.

Negotiating the Offer

When you’ve found a buyer, your agent can help you negotiate the terms of the purchase contract. For example, if you want to keep your porch swing but the potential buyer wants it removed, you can spell it out in writing.

The best thing to do during negotiations is remain calm and professional. If you get irritated, it could derail the entire sale process.

Also, be prepared to give a little in order to sell your home. For example, you might be willing to reduce the asking price or agree to a longer closing period.

Another way to strengthen your negotiating position is by being pre-approved for a mortgage, which shows that you’re serious about buying the property. And finally, a lawyer can help you fill out paperwork correctly, review contracts and other documents and identify any issues that might require further negotiation. Having an attorney by your side can make the whole process smoother and quicker.

Closing

Once you've received the final purchase offer from your buyer, the home sale can move toward closing. During this process, your escrow company will prepare several documents for you to sign including a closing disclosure, mortgage document securing the loan, promissory note that states the promise by the buyer to pay and a deed transferring legal ownership of the property. You may also need to sign for a few other items, such as a bill of sale and affidavits.

Missed deadlines in reviewing documentation, slow replies to inquiries and requests for additional time before the closing date could signal that your buyer is having second thoughts about purchasing the home. If they are requesting numerous changes to the original contract, it could be an indication that financing is a concern. Ask your buyer what their needs are and how you can meet them to close the deal. This approach allows you to identify and overcome objections early on.