The amount of time it can take to sell a home can vary greatly based on several factors. No, it doesn’t matter why you’re selling. Whether you intend to go bigger or smaller or move to a different state completely, selling your current one can take some time. Redfin data suggests that selling a home takes approximately 10-70 days. A variety of reasons can factor in to the length of time. These reasons can help you predict how swiftly your home will sell.
Location
Is your home located in a highly popular area in town or is it off the beaten path? Whether it’s because of the walk score, its proximity to public transportation, or is simply known for being an overall safe and pleasant neighborhood, the location of your home plays a major role in the amount of time your home will be on the market. Even just the location of the home within a particular neighborhood can affect the sale time.
Condition
The condition your home is in can also be a direct factor as to how quickly it will sell. Even if your home is older and lacks all of the modern updates, it can still sell quickly if it is well-kempt and has strong curb appeal. It is easy to update simple aspects of your home without spending too much money – put fresh paint on the walls, update the flooring, deep clean the carpets. Don’t forget the exterior of the house, too.
Consider the condition of your landscaping and exterior features. Even small changes like planting fresh flowers or keeping your lawn tidy can drastically improve your chances of selling your home quickly.
Price
Properly priced homes often have a shorter market time. It is critical to have your home accurately appraised and discuss with a real estate agent what the best selling price for your home should be. It is better to price your home a bit under the actual market value if you are looking to attract buyers and sell quicker. Pricing under the market value does not mean that it will sell for less. It could actually result in multiple buyers and a potential bidding battle.
According to the National Association of Realtors, “homes priced at market value will bring in 60 percent of potential home buyers who are looking at that price point. However, pricing your home 10 percent under market value will capture 75 percent of available buyers.” Overpriced homes tend to sit on the market, even if they are beautiful and in located in the best neighborhoods in town.
Comparisons
A real estate agent typically looks at recent home sales in your surrounding neighborhood is a good way to determine the market. It is best to search the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) for homes with a similar design and build as yours – same style, overall square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms – to establish the amount of time it took to sell those homes in order to provide a solid estimate for your own home.
Professional Photos
Beautiful photos of your home that are well lit and provide the best representation will drastically improve the likelihood of selling. Show off all of the best aspects of your home, from the beautiful master bedroom to your updated kitchen. Don’t forget that well-manicured yard that might be the best selling point for a new family or backyard BBQ enthusiasts!
It is critical to remember that once you are ready to put your home on the market, you must be prepared to become somewhat of a houseguest in your own home. Buyers will ideally like to have access to your home at varying times of the day. The more accessible your home is for showings, the more buyers will come by to view your home and the sooner you can sell it.
There are many other ways to increase the sale price while decreasing days on the market. Looking to sell your home and hoping to do it quickly? I would love to help! Give me a call today and I will start the process right away.
