How to Get Your House Ready to Sell in 30 Days

If you’re thinking about selling your home, the timeline is surely a point of serious consideration. The average home sits on the market for 68 days. But that doesn’t include the preparation that takes place before putting the house on the market.

In total, it could take several months to say goodbye to your current home and make the move. What does this mean for you? More mortgage payments, more stress, and more opportunities for the fickle housing market to change at an inconvenient time.

No matter your personal situation, it pays to sell your house as fast as possible. Here’s how to get your house ready to sell in 30 days.

1. Know the Market

You want to sell your home. But is now the best time? Since housing markets can differ between states and even neighborhoods, it pays to know your housing environment.

A listing agent will ultimately assist you with pricing your home based on comparables in your area. That said, you should start with your own research to see if it’s worth selling a house in the first place.

You may discover that your home isn’t worth as much as you’d like. If that’s the case, it may be better to hold back until things change in your local area.

To get a handle on the value of your home, visit a house directory service and see what’s for sale around your neighborhood. You’re looking for homes with similar square footage that are in the same condition as your own. Examine a few of these properties and you should come to a relatively accurate estimate.

Happy with the value of your home? Great. Make sure its estimated listing value is enough to pay off the rest of your mortgage loan.

2. Locate a Listing Agent

The vast majority of homeowners don’t have the experience necessary to complete a home sale without outside help. And that’s why most people enlist the assistance of a listing agent. They’re paid by commission, so there’s no worry about pulling out your credit card.

You’ve likely encountered advertisements for listing agents just about everywhere, whether in brochures, yard signs, or television breaks. But you should know that listing agents are a diverse breed. You’ll want to find an agent that’s best for your personal situation.

What does this mean, exactly? You’re looking for the listing agents who have personal experience with real estate in your local area. They’ll be able to gauge an accurate home valuation and help you sell your house as fast as possible.

Once you’ve found agents in your area, check their online reviews to start cutting your list. It’s a good rule of thumb to vet an agent with a simple interview before agreeing to work with one.

3. Declutter Everything

You’ll want to wow potential buyers by showcasing the natural beauty of your home. Rent a storage unit and remove everything except essential furniture pieces. The goal is to create a neutral, empty space that makes it easy for buyers to self-insert their own possessions.

When you’re selling a home, decluttering is more than just spring cleaning. Potential buyers will check out everything from the attic to the closets. It’s important to attend even to these small areas to make a good impression.

As part of decluttering, you’ll want to remove contentious items like religious paraphernalia and personal portraits. Removing personal items from your long-lived home is just one reason why it’s such a painful process. Take a deep breath and learn how to sell your house without getting emotional.

4. Make Repairs

Your listing agent will help you identify anything in need of repair or replacement. You can choose to ignore these upgrades, but it will come at the cost of more time on the market and lower bids. It’s usually worth the time and money to make at least some of these repairs.

Most of the time, the repairs at this stage are simple fixes. Maybe you’re touching up some chipped paint or replacing a leaky toilet in the spare bathroom. Believe it or not, these upgrades can go a long way towards impressing a potential buyer.

When it comes to larger expenses, such as a new water heater or roof, you shouldn’t make any changes until you have definite proof that a replacement is in order. A home inspector will make these determinations once you find a potential buyer.

5. Improve the Curb Appeal

The aesthetic outside the home is just as important as the interior. You’ll only have one chance to impress most buyers, so it’s important to improve the curb appeal before your home hits the market. Intelligent curb appeal can also lead to higher bids and offer an excellent return on your investment.

Here are some fast, simple ways to up your home’s curb appeal:

• Pressure wash the walkway and siding
• Paint the exterior
• Install outdoor lighting
• Plant new vegetation or establish planters
• Modernize your house numbers

While these seem like simple upgrades, they go a long way in turning an average exterior into something more.

How to Get Your House Ready to Sell in 30 Days

Most people would agree that it takes too long to sell a home. But you can drastically increase the turnaround speed with these proactive tips. It only takes a month or less to hire a listing agent and prepare your home for the market.

Now you know how to get your house ready to sell in 30 days. So what are you waiting for? The sooner you start, the more you’ll save.

Trying to learn more about selling your home? Search our website for more home-selling tips.