Help! I Need to Sell My House Quickly

I need to sell my house quickly.

The why doesn’t matter in some respects. There are as many reasons to sell your house quickly as there are people who find themselves in this position. Perhaps you need to move house on the fast track because you found your dream home and need funds for the down payment. Maybe you have to relocate for work, for school or to be closer to family. You may have to sell an inherited property that you cannot afford or do not want. You may be facing repossession and trying every step possible to avoid this.

Bottom line: you need to sell your house quickly.

But the why matters to you. Very much so. For very personal, and financial, reasons, you need to sell your house and sooner rather than later. You may feel that you do not have many, if any, options available to you. The good news is that you do. Let’s look at X options.

4 Ways to Sell Your House Quickly

1. With an Experienced Estate Agent

It takes an average of four to six months to sell a house via a traditional method (i.e. listing it with an estate agent). However, in some markets, For Sale signs seem barely planted before Sold signs pop up in their place. If it is a hot seller’s market, you may be able to complete a sale on a more rigorous timeline than average. A key factor at play is your estate agent’s experience – and the size of their network. If they have motivated buyers in mind, they can help push forward more quickly.

There is no guarantee as to the amount of time it will take, so be prepared. This method also includes making upgrades and updates that make it more appealing to buyers and help you (hopefully) get your asking price or beyond.

2. By Yourself

A For Sale By Owner (FSBO) situation may work as quickly too. While your house could sit on the market for months, if you have a targeted buyer in mind, such as a friend, neighbour, or family member, it can certainly accelerate the process. It’s not foolproof, by any means, but it is an option to consider.

Keep in mind that you will have to handle the various aspects associated with a sale, from scheduling viewings to negotiating with prospective buyers to arranging surveys and searches. While you avoid estate agent fees, you do take on a lot of work.

3. At Auction

With an auction, you can typically sell your home in a matter of a month or so. The average time is between 45 and 60 days. You have the benefit of knowing when you will sell. Another advantage is that auctions tend to attract a different breed of buyer: they are often not dissuaded by homes that are in less than ideal condition, so you will not have to pay to improve, repair, update or upgrade the property.

A downside of an auction is that while there could be a bidding war for your house, you do risk having to accept the minimum or opening bid.

4. With a Cash House Buyer

You need to sell quickly – perhaps even faster than you would with auctions. You may consider working with a cash house buyer. These are investors who specialise in purchasing properties on a highly accelerated timeline; they have the financial resources on hand to complete transactions. You could be done within as little as 7 to 21 days. As well, all of the fees and hassles involved in a sale are taken on by the cash buyer, so you can save a significant amount of time, not to mention the aggravation and headaches!

You may be thinking, ‘So… what’s the catch?’ There isn’t one, though you should be aware that the buyer will typically offer between 80 and 85% of the total market value. Again, though, factor in the expenses you avoid (e.g. estate agents, solicitors’ fees, costs for surveys, etc.), as well as the financial and emotional costs involved with not having to wait extended periods of time to sell your house.

I need to sell my house quickly. Now you have some options to explore as you choose the route that works best for you.