How to sell your house fast

Step 1: Decide how you’re going to sell

Choosing how you’re going to sell dictates every other aspect of the process, from the selling strategy, to the cost of selling the home, and the preparation you’ll need to do.

With a real estate agent

The real estate agent (or listing agent) markets the home, prepares the paperwork, and communicates with the buyer’s agent—the real estate professional who assists the buyer with finding and closing on the home.

For sale by owner

With this option (often called “FSBO”), the owner manages all aspects of the sale. Because you are selling the home, you won’t need to pay a listing agent’s commission. In FSBO transactions, the seller has an asking price and can stick to that price, and it is up to the buyer to pay their agent a commission.

Generally the better condition your home is in, the more offers you will receive and the easier it is to justify the price.

Sell your home to an iBuyer

The traditional process can be stressful—showings, repairs, offers that fall through, and months of uncertainty. Selling to an iBuyer like Opendoor is an alternative way to sell your home that emphasizes convenience and certainty.

While this can save money, it requires more time and effort. All the paperwork and home marketing fall on the seller. You’ll need to handle tasks like listing the property online, taking high-quality photos, writing listing details, and scheduling showings. Knowledge of the local real estate market is also important to accurately price the home.

Decor

Decor, for selling a home, means making the space as neutral as possible — no funky accessories on the walls or overpowering colors. Neutral colors, for example, offer potential buyers a blank slate so they can imagine themselves in the home.

Maintenance

Make a plan for maintenance, so nothing falls through the cracks during the hectic home-buying and selling process. This way, your home remains in pristine condition until it’s under contract.