Thinking of selling your home?
Every homeowner that lists their property for sale shares a similar goal – to make the most amount of money in the least amount of time possible. A fast sale means:
- Less stress
- Fewer showings
- More money in your pocket
Here’s the thing though:
The average property sits on the market for 43 days before going under contract. But what if there was a way to cut that in half?
In this guide, I’m going to walk you through everything I know about selling a house fast.
Contents
You will learn:
- Why Speed Matters in Today’s Market
- The Foundation of Fast Home Sales
- 5 Proven Strategies to Sell Your House Fast
- Advanced Tactics for Maximum Speed
Why Speed Matters in Today’s Market
Let’s start with something most sellers don’t realize…
The longer a house sits on the market, the less money you will ultimately make. A whopping 82% of homeowners with mortgages have current interest rates below 6% (and who knows how low they will go in the future). This “lock-in effect” is keeping inventory artificially low, as homeowners who could otherwise sell and take their profit with them are staying put to avoid new higher rates.
Put simply: If you can sell your house in 20 days rather than 43 days, you will beat half the competition before they even know what’s happening.
Existing home sales for July 2025 are now at 4.01 million. So there is still strong buyer demand.
The Foundation of Fast Home Sales
Want to know the best part about selling a house fast?
It all comes down to three core elements. When all these work together, magic happens:
- Pricing: Your asking price determines everything else. Get this wrong, and your house will sit there.
- Presentation: First impressions are 90% of the sale, and it is your job to make them count.
- Marketing: You could have the best house in the neighborhood, but if the right buyers don’t know about it, you won’t sell it.
Price It Like A Pro
The number one mistake that sellers make is…not pricing their home low enough.
If you list it at the right price, buyers will come. Price it too high, and nobody will care.
Why? Buyers search for homes in specific price brackets.
If your $300,000 house is priced at $325,000, it won’t even appear in searches for homes under $320,000.
Solution? Price your home right at, or just below, the market rate.
This will not only create urgency but will often trigger multiple offers at and above the asking price.
5 Proven Strategies to Sell Your House Fast
Now for the good stuff. Here are the five strategies that separate the sellers from the failed home listings.
Strategy 1: Stage Like Your Life Depends on It
You might be wondering what staging has to do with a fast sale. Well, here is a fact that will blow your mind: staged homes sell 73% faster than non-staged homes. (Gut feeling: they also make more money).
Secret sauce:
- Clear personal items and family photos.
- Neutral paint and décor.
- Clear walkways through each room.
- Little touches of life (flowers/plants).
Skipping this step is a bad idea. I have witnessed identical properties, one staged and the other not in the same neighborhood. The one that was staged sold $15,000 higher in half the time.
Strategy 2: Master Your Online Presence
If you were to guess which part of the home selling process was the most critical, you might think ‘negotiating offers’.
WRONG. The single most important part of the process in the eyes of the buyer (and one which almost 90% of sellers miss) is their ONLINE PRESENCE.
Did you know that 96% of buyers search for houses online first?
If your photos suck, your home won’t even get a showing.
So what does this mean?
Simple, professional photography isn’t a “nice to have.” It’s an absolute must.
But don’t stop there.
Create a virtual tour, write compelling listing descriptions. Great photos cost a few hundred bucks but can save you thousands in carrying costs.
Strategy 3: Be Flexible with Showings
I can’t stress this one enough: if you want to sell fast, make it easy for buyers to see your house.
This means saying yes to:
- Evening showings
- Weekends
- Last-minute requests
Yes, it is inconvenient for you, but it is even more so for the buyer who can only view your home on a Tuesday at 7PM.
And there is a chance this person will be the one to write the best offer.
Bonus tip: use virtual viewings for out-of-town buyers to widen your pool beyond your local area.
Strategy 4: Consider Cash Buyers
If you need to sell a house fast in Omaha or any city in the US, then here is an option you will want to strongly consider: cash buyers.
There are many private investors out there who will give you a cash offer for your home in as little as 7-14 days with zero financing or inspection contingencies.
Sure, you might not get the highest price possible, but you will save thousands in carrying costs and avoid the risk of deals falling through.
Strategy 5: Time it Right
Timing isn’t everything. But it sure is close.
The months to sell for maximum speed are May through August when buyer activity peaks. The secret, though, is that listing in early spring (March/April) can even better as you will face less competition in those months.
Avoid like the plague:
- November-February (least active for buyers)
- Major holidays
- Back-to-school periods in your area
Advanced Tactics for Maximum Speed
For those who want to take things up a gear or two, here are some advanced moves to shave more time off your sale.
Pre-Listing Inspections
Wait, inspections? Aren’t those for the buyer?
Smart sellers are the one who get this out of the way before anyone else.
Fixing issues before they become problems during an inspection, pricing more accurately, and showing transparency to buyers can make all the difference. Consider a pre-listing inspection before putting your property on the market.
Offer Buyer Incentives
Sometimes it only takes a little incentive to create the urgency that drives a fast sale.
Consider offering:
- Closing cost assistance
- Home warranty
- Flexible move-out dates
All of these incentives can often cost you much less than weeks on the market.
Wrap Up: Bringing It All Together
Selling a house fast isn’t about luck. It’s about strategy. By nailing the right price, presentation, and marketing, you will dramatically cut your time on the market.
So remember the three key elements to a fast sale:
- Price it right day one.
- Stage your home like a pro.
- Make it easy for buyers to see your property.
- Be open to all your options (including cash buyers).
The game might be changing, but these fundamentals are here to stay.
Master them, and you could be selling faster than you ever thought possible.
The bottom line? Yes, the average home takes 43 days to sell, but you are not average. With the right strategy, you can have that SOLD sign in place in a matter of weeks.
