Listing on the MLS and pricing accurately are a few ways to close quickly and sell for more
The U.S. housing market recently flipped from a seller’s market to a faint buyer’s market, thanks to more sellers listing their homes and high prices keeping buyers on the sidelines. As a result, sellers can no longer assume their listing will get a dozen offers and sell for thousands above asking. Trends vary from market to market, but in general, sellers now have to be more strategic.
To help you navigate the new normal, we’re sharing 12 data-driven tips to help you sell your home fast, without compromising on value. Afterwards, we’ll go over alternatives, including “For Sale By Owner” (FSBO) and iBuyer companies. Let’s dive in.
How to sell your house fast
- List on the MLS
- Hire an agent
- Price accurately
- Get a pre-inspection
- Sell in spring
- Maximize curb appeal
- Prioritize “screen appeal”
- Add in-demand features
- Depersonalize, declutter, and clean
- Stage, stage, stage
- Be flexible with showings
- Offer incentives
Thinking of selling?
Lock in a competitive rate for your next home.
Thinking of selling?
Lock in a competitive rate for your next home.
1. Increase your home’s visibility
The best way to sell your house fast and get the most money is to list on a Multiple Listing Service (MLS). An MLS is a database used by real estate professionals to share listings with clients, websites, and each other. In most states, you need to hire an agent to list your home on an MLS – good news, since agents also tend to get sellers a better deal.
Millions of people look for homes through an online MLS every day on sites like Redfin and Zillow, meaning when you list on the MLS, you’re getting the most exposure to buyers. The more people that see your home, the more likely you’ll get a favorable offer and sell quickly. In fact, according to a recent study, homes listed on the MLS sell for ~$53,000 more than those listed on private networks (known as “pocket listings”).
2. Hire a great agent
Hiring a high quality, local real estate agent can significantly streamline the selling process. A skilled agent will leverage their market knowledge to price your home competitively, recommend effective staging and marketing tactics, and negotiate on your behalf to secure favorable terms. They’ll also get your house maximum exposure by listing it on the MLS, coordinating showings, and providing insight along the way.
Most buyers and sellers hire an agent to help buy or sell a home. Before you agree to work with an agent, read online reviews, ask plenty of questions, and advocate for a listing strategy that markets your home as widely as possible. Some questions to ask include:
- “How many clients have you helped this year?”
- “How quickly can you get me into a home?”
- “How do you help clients succeed in my neighborhood?”
Many brokerages may be a good fit, but Redfin uniquely ties industry-leading technology with local, top-tier agents. Redfin agents rank in the top 1% nationwide in terms of sales volume and close more than three-times as many deals as other top brokerages. Paired with on-demand tours, 3D walkthroughs, preferred placement in search results, staging, a listing fee as low as 1%, and more, selling with Redfin means faster sales and more money in your pocket.
3. Price your home accurately
Pricing your home right is essential to attracting buyers. Buyers are in the driver’s seat in today’s market and able to negotiate for lower prices and better terms, so it’s critical to make a good first impression and price fair. Well-priced homes could incite a bidding war, as is happening in the Midwest, which may lead to faster, more lucrative sales.
The Redfin Estimate is a great place to start and get an idea of what your home is worth. Redfin Estimate is a highly accurate market value estimate based on millions of MLS listings. To find your home’s Redfin Estimate, simply search for your address on Redfin.com, and you’ll see its estimated market value at the top of the listing page. You can then claim your home and fill in any details that may influence its value, like stainless-steel appliances or a new bathroom.
Once you have an idea of your home’s value, your agent can provide expert advice, drawing on recent comparable sales, local trends, and buyer preferences.
4. Conduct a pre-inspection
A pre-inspection helps uncover issues before buyers do, reducing the likelihood of renegotiation, renovations, or deal-breakers down the line. Most buyers will conduct their own home inspection prior to the sale closing, too, which could affect negotiations and sale price if they find problems.
A pre-inspection gives you the opportunity to address any concerns on your own terms, helping you avoid surprises and keep the sale on track.Consider creating a home inspection checklist so you know you’ve looked at everything.
If your inspector flags anything that could affect the sale, fix them as quickly as possible. Focus on fixes that enhance safety and functionality. Even minor repairs can make a big difference in attracting confident offers.
5. List your home in spring (and on a Thursday)
Even though market trends are shifting, spring remains the best time to sell a house. According to multiple studies, homes sell the fastest and for the most money between April and May. Policy and economic changes could affect this, especially if mortgage rates jump higher.
If you want to get even more granular, Redfin found that sellers who listed their home on a Wednesday sold for the most money, while homes listed on Thursday sold the fastest. Sunday performed the worst in both metrics. Your real estate agent can provide you with the most accurate timeline for when to sell in your market.
6. Maximize curb appeal
First impressions are critical if you want to sell your house fast. Boosting your home’s “curb appeal” can be a great way to get buyers’ attention, attract offers, and sell quickly. Make sure to take photos after you’re done with your updates.
Your home’s exterior is the first thing people see both in-person and online, so that’s where you should direct most of your attention. They don’t have to be expensive, either; simple changes like removing trash, moving parked cars, and repainting your front door go a long way. If budget allows, consider adding outdoor lighting, fixing up the roof, or updating your mailbox. Buyers often base their initial judgment on aesthetic details.
7. Prioritize screen appeal
Before buyers ever see your home in person, they’ll likely encounter it online. Take advantage of this by raising your home’s “screen appeal” through quality photos, video, and planning. Capture a buyer’s attention with professional photos, plenty of natural light, and 3D tours. Highlight your home’s best features – like an updated kitchen or spacious backyard – and make sure each image is bright, clutter-free, and inviting.
Since most buyers find homes on their phones, screen appeal can be the difference between a quick click-away and a scheduled showing.
Selling with Redfin is an easy way to have everything handled for you. Using a Redfin agent gives you access to professional photos, 3D walkthroughs, and more. And, if you upgrade to Redfin Concierge, we throw in cinematic video footage, home improvement, renovation, organizing, and staging help.
8. Add in-demand features
Investing in features that buyers want can help attract attention and help your home sell quickly. You may be able to fetch a higher price, too.
One good way to find in-demand home features is by looking through Redfin’s Home Trends page. Redfin tracks thousands of data points for every home listing, like the quality of utilities, type of flooring, and more, and measures the sale-to-list ratio of each one. For example, in 2024, homes with stainless-steel appliances, foyers, and backyards tended to sell faster and for more money.
If you add features, make sure to flaunt them loud and proud. Include them in your listing photos, direct people to see them during open houses, and highlight them in 3D walkthroughs. This way, you can boost your online and in-person appeal. Your agent can provide the best advice here.
9. Update, declutter, and clean
Small improvements can have a big impact on how buyers perceive your home. A fresh coat of paint on walls or cabinets, modern light fixtures, and minor repairs (like fixing leaky faucets) can instantly elevate its look. If you opt to repaint, consider neutral colors so potential buyers can more easily imagine themselves in the space.
Decluttering and removing personal items creates a neutral canvas that helps buyers envision themselves in the space. And most importantly, don’t forget to thoroughly clean your house, from scrubbing floors to wiping windows.
Affordable DIY updates like changing a backsplash or installing a smart thermostat can also help entice buyers.
10. Stage your home well
Beyond 3D tours, staging is a critical part of the home sale process. Staging allows you to spruce up and depersonalize your home using temporary furniture and decor, capturing your home in its best light for perfect photos and video. You can do this yourself, but you may be better off hiring a professional staging service. Staged homes tend to sell for more and pay for themselves.
Again, Redfin Concierge is a perfect option here. It’s an easy, all-in-one pre-listing solution that can help you sell faster for above asking price. Professional stagers, designers, landscapers, and more are all available to prepare your home for sale, for an extra 1% commission fee.
Redfin Redesign is another option that could work wonders. This tool uses AI to allow homeowners to switch up color, design, and decor on listing photos of their choosing with the click of a button. This can be a great place to gather ideas or see what looks good without spending money.
11. Accommodate as many showings as possible
Flexibility is key to attracting serious buyers, so try to accommodate as many viewing requests as possible, even on short notice. Keep the home tidy and welcoming, with lights on and clutter stowed away. Open houses are critical for buyers.
During a showing, your agent will help potential buyers visualize how they’d use each space, whether it’s a cozy reading nook or a multifunctional family room. By making your home easy to see and inviting to explore, you increase your chances of a faster, smoother sale.
12. Offer incentives and be open to price cuts
Even though it used to be rare, sellers today are getting used to offering incentives to attract buyers. Buyers today know the market and will be less likely to consider an overpriced home.
At the end of 2024, more than half of all listings had been on the market for 60 days or longer (a “stale” listing). Buyers can get wary if a house becomes stale and may be more inclined to negotiate for incentives, such as price drops, home warranties, and improvement allowances. While you may have to offer these anyway, it’s important to price well from the start to give yourself the best chance.
If you’re still not seeing enough activity, reevaluate your asking price. Well-priced homes still sell quickly, and staying flexible – especially if mortgage rates spike – can make the difference between a quick sale and a stale listing. Don’t wait too long to adjust, though. Work with your agent to determine the best pricing and marketing strategy for your local area.
Alternative ways to sell your home quickly
Listing on the MLS, hiring a great agent, and pricing competitively are proven ways to sell your house fast. However, there are other methods that may work for you.
We Buy Houses companies
If you need to sell your house immediately and don’t have time to hire an agent or list your home, consider “We Buy Houses” companies. These buyers pay in cash and can close in days or weeks, but typically offer below-market prices. Companies can range from franchise cash buyers, to house flippers, to buy-and-hold investors. While they can be appealing, they have also been shown to use unethical business practices and may push to close on a deal with unfair terms.
iBuyer companies
iBuyer platforms like Opendoor and Offerpad can provide near-instant cash offers. However, their service fees and final offers can vary widely, so weigh potential lost profit against the benefit of a quick transaction. iBuyer transactions typically close in two to three weeks.
For sale by owner
For sale by owner (FSBO) allows sellers to maintain control over every part of the process, including pricing, listing, and negotiating. By handling everything yourself, you can potentially save on real estate commission fees, which tend to be around 5% of the home’s sale price (how much you pay now depends on negotiation). However, it also means you’re responsible for hosting open houses, preparing paperwork, and more, which takes time.
Final thoughts
Selling your house fast comes down to pricing right, listing on the MLS, and making it as appealing to buyers as possible. You can hire an agent to help speed up the selling process, or do it yourself to try to save some money. More immediate methods, like iBuyers and We Buy Houses companies, can be the fastest methods, but come with caveats.
No matter what you choose, consider the current housing market. We predict that 2025 will be another year of high prices and low sales, but with more supply, which could help keep buyers in the driver’s seat. Paired with rising prices and economic uncertainty, though, a lot could change. Even if you don’t hire an agent to help sell your house fast, it may be a good idea to get advice from a real estate professional.
There’s always uncertainty in the market – especially now – so even if you do everything right, you may not get a buyer quickly. Following these steps simply puts you in the best position to sell quickly for the best price.