Selling a home is stressful under the best of circumstances, but when you need to sell your home quickly, the pressure can be overwhelming. You may feel like you are in a race against the clock, and that every decision you make could be the difference between getting your asking price and accepting a lower offer. But with proper planning, preparation, and (we admit) some luck there are ways you can increase your ods. Fortunately, there are things you can do to minimize the stress and maximize your chances of success. Here is an 8-step guide to selling your home quickly.

Cash house buyers

Finding a company that is fast and efficient in sending in an offer seems a bit suspicious to anyone who doesn’t have experience in the real estate market. However, there are professional companies that will offer hard cash soon after you book a consultation with them. Local home buyers in Chicago will know how to approach you and will ensure your price offer comes in realistically from any investor. This allows you to save time (and nerves) that you would otherwise spend on posting listings on classified websites and waiting for a serious buyer to show up. More importantly, you will be able to get the exact value of your home without any real estate agent fees or other commissions that are common in such situations.

Declutter

Even though you may have already sent a request to a reputable home-buying company, you probably don’t feel at ease until you see some actual numbers in the coming days. Whatever the reason you have to try to sell your current house and get on with your life, there are other things you can do that can help you land a potential sale. Start with decluttering anything you can in a fast sweep and cleaning, and throw out anything that you don’t need.

With decluttering comes the opportunity to have a garage sale and make some extra money. It’s always a good idea to have a garage sale to get rid of all the stuff you don’t need and whatever is left you can donate. If you want to make some extra money, be sure to price everything fairly high. You’ll be surprised at how much money you can make from items that you thought were just taking up space.

Make sure to stage your home

As you are decluttering, it is important to remember that you are also preparing your house for potential buyers. This means you should start thinking about ways to stage your home in the most appealing way possible. You want potential buyers to be able to imagine themselves living in your home, and this can be difficult if the space is cluttered or crammed with too much furniture. Try to create a sense of openness, and use light colors and strategic lighting to make the space seem bright and inviting.

Even with furniture, it is better to leave a space so the customer can start imagining pieces that are fitted to their needs. For example, a stage room should have a large rug that is in contrast to the color of the wood (bright and dark), maybe a table, and a decorative lamp piece. These items make it feel like a potential home,  but the space will occupy the buyers’ imagination.

Get rid of personal items

While you want potential buyers to be able to picture themselves living in your home, it is important to get rid of any personal items that might be distracting or off-putting. This includes family photos, religious items, and anything else that might be considered personal. You want potential buyers to be able to see the home as their own, and too many personal items can prevent this.

Personal items can make any buyers feel intrusive as they are roaming someone else’s home. If there are too many personal items, the potential buyer cannot see the home for what it is. This will limit any chance of an offer as they would prefer to purchase a home that they can see themselves in without putting too much imagination into it.

Clean and repair

Once you have decluttered and staged your home, it is time to focus on the details. This means giving the house a good cleaning from top to bottom and making any necessary repairs. Even small things like replacing burned-out light bulbs or fixing a leaky faucet can make a big difference. Buyers see your home as move-in ready, so they don’t have to worry about making any major repairs once they take ownership.

A clean and well-kept home provides the potential buyer with peace of mind. They know that they won’t have to put in any extra work once they purchase the home, and this can be a major selling point. No one wants to buy a home and then have to immediately start making repairs, so make sure your home is in

Price it right

When you are trying to sell your home quickly, it is important to price it right. This means pricing it at or below market value. While you may be tempted to try and get top dollar for your home, this can end up costing you more in the long run. If your home sits on the market for too long, buyers will start to wonder what is wrong with it. They will also be less likely to make a full-price offer if they know that you are motivated to sell quickly.

Pricing your home at or below market value is one of the best ways to sell it quickly. By doing this, you are more likely to receive offers and can start negotiating from there. It’s important to remember that you are not going to get full market value for your home if you are trying to sell it quickly, but you can still make a profit if you price it correctly.

Marketing your home

Now that your home is ready to be shown, it is time to start marketing it. This can be done in a variety of ways, including online listings, open houses, and yard signs. You will want to make sure that your home is featured prominently on all of the major real estate websites. You should also consider hiring a professional photographer to take pictures of your home. This can make a big difference in how your home is presented to potential buyers.

When you are marketing your home, you want to make sure that you are reaching the widest audience possible. The more people that see your home, the better chance you have of selling it quickly. You can reach a wide audience by listing your home online, having an open house, and using yard signs.

Negotiating with buyers

Once you start receiving offers on your home, it is time to start negotiating with buyers. This can be a tricky process, but it is important to remember that you are in control. You should never accept the first offer that you receive. Instead, take some time to review all of the offers and then counter-offer with your best price.

relaxing while selling your home

You should also be prepared to negotiate on other aspects of the sale, such as the closing date and any repairs that need to be made. The key is to be flexible and to remember that you are in control of the situation. If you are not comfortable with a certain offer, you can always counter-offer or walk away from the deal.

Selling your home quickly can be a challenge, but it is possible to do if you are prepared. By decluttering and repairing your home, pricing it correctly, and marketing it to a wide audience, you can increase your chances of receiving offers and selling your home quickly. Remember to be flexible when negotiating with buyers and always counter-offer with your best price. With a little bit of effort, you can successfully sell your home quickly.