How to Market Your Home when You Need to Sell Fast

When you need to sell your home fast, your options are limited compared to the options you’d have if you weren’t working on a tight time frame. If you’re moving out of state, for example, you’ll have to sell your home before you move. Otherwise, you’ll need to go back or hire someone to finish the sale for you. Both are time-consuming and expensive.

 Waiting for a real estate agent to sell your home is likely not an option. However, if you don’t mind waiting a bit longer to sell, you could generate leads with PPC ads shown only to a local audience. However, that may not work fast enough for you. It depends on your definition of “fast.” If you have a few months to sell, it could work. If you want to sell your home in weeks, try the following strategies.

Waiting for a real estate agent to sell your home is likely not an option. However, if you don’t mind waiting a bit longer to sell, you could generate leads with PPC ads shown only to a local audience. 

Another smart move is to brush up on digital promotion tactics from a trusted marketing resource. 

Still, if you want to sell your home in weeks, try the following strategies.

1. Post on a classified ads site

Classified ad sites get a bad rap, often for a good reason, but they’re not always bad. You can absolutely use a classified ad website to sell your home fast. However, you need to watch out for scammers trying to take advantage of your situation.

 Tips for a safe transaction with someone you find on a classified ad site:

• Never appear desperate or in a hurry. If you have a deadline to close the sale, there’s no way to avoid discussing this. However, don’t give the impression that you’re desperate to sell and will do anything to make it happen. They might try to talk you down by thousands of dollars to take advantage of your desperation.
• Run a background check. Always run a background check on the person you’re about to do business with if you found them on a classified ad site. Require them to show you their ID so you can get all the correct information directly from their identification.
• Meet with people in person. Never close a deal on your home without meeting someone face-to-face. When you don’t have time to waste, you don’t want to go too far discussing your home sale online only to find out a week later the person is a scammer. Most scams will be obvious, but when you meet in person you can uncover that potential much earlier in the game.
• Remember that people might think your post is a scam. Be prepared to prove that you aren’t a scammer, because selling a home fast for cheap is going to be a red flag to many.

With these tips in mind, post your ad to various classified ad sites to see if anyone bites.

2. Sell to a cash buyer

You’ve probably seen ads that offer to buy houses as-is for cash. This is actually a great option when you need to sell your home quickly because you won’t have to deal with inconveniences like scheduling inspections, making repairs, and waiting for a buyer’s financials to be approved.

When you decide to sell your home for cash, you get an offer and if you accept, you’ll have money in your bank account usually within 24 hours. Even if defects are discovered later – whether you were aware or not – it won’t matter. Selling your home as-is means the buyer is accepting it in its current condition, including unknown issues.

When you need to sell your home fast, this is usually the best option. Although, you can count on not getting the full amount of what your home is worth. However, you’ll save time, money, and stress, which is worth every extra dollar.

3. Work with a real estate agent

Just because you need to sell your home fast doesn’t mean you can’t work with a real estate agent. You don’t need an agent to list your home in the MLS or on all the major real estate websites to get a buyer. Although they certainly can list your home, that may not be necessary.

Agents might know people who are looking for a home who also want to buy as fast as you want to sell. They also might have contacts for real estate investors looking to add to their portfolio. An investor might give you a cash offer that rivals what the cash-buying companies have to offer.

Consider your offers, but act fast

When you’re selling your home fast, don’t hesitate to accept a reasonable offer, especially if you’ve been struggling to get a decent offer. Carefully consider all offers, but don’t hold out for high offers if you’re trying to sell in a short time span.