Selling a house isn’t easy. In fact, it’s something that many families dread. Chances are that you’ve heard horror stories about houses that sat for months on the market without selling, gradually decreasing in price. If you’ve been thinking about selling your home and you want to do so as quickly as possible, there are a few things you can do to help your house sell fast. There are some factors you can’t control, like location or noisy neighbors. Fortunately, there are seven important things you can do to give your house in the best shot at selling.

1. Fix what’s broken

Buyers are always looking for the perfect move-in ready home, so fixing your home is key. If buyers see broken or poorly cared for items, they wonder what else was ignored. If your house needs a lot of help, focus on the major items. Need a new roof? Buy one. A new owner will not want to put a new roof on the house unless you’re offering the home at a serious discount. Remember that most families want something they can move into right away without spending months working on. If there are problems with the home that you can easily fix, whether it be chipping paint or a broken fence post, try to fix them before you list your house. 

2. Update your appliances

It’s important to remember that homebuyers have specific items they look for in a home. For many buyers great appliances are number one on their wish list for a home. That’s where you come in. While you probably can’t afford to update every one of your home’s appliances, take a hard look at what your current setup looks like. Is the stove outdated? Is the fridge about to die? Investing a few hundred dollars on a new fridge, dishwasher or oven might not be the way you want to spend your money, but it could help you sell your house more quickly and for a higher price. If someone sees an old stove sitting in the middle of the kitchen that looks like it’s about to break, they may wonder what else is going to break if they buy the house. 

3. Take breathtaking pictures

You probably know that you need to have pictures taken of your house. Pictures are one of the most important ways that you can draw in potential buyers. 86% of buyers start their home search online. Because most buyers look online before they decide to explore a house in person, it’s important that your pictures look great. Consider hiring a professional photographer to really showcase your home. Make sure that you take pictures of both the home’s interior and exterior. If you have a large yard, try to showcase that. If you just planted roses, take a few pictures. If your master bathroom is enormous, take a picture. Have an amazing walk-in closet? Include a picture of that too. Highlight the best areas of your home and skip the ones that are less attractive to buyers. 

4. Ditch your clutter

Clearing out the clutter is easier said than done, but if you want to sell your house quickly, you need to clear the clutter. Get rid of extra papers, magazines or memorabilia that is sitting around your house. Organize your closets. Clean out beneath your beds. Get rid of that pile of clothes next to your dresser. When potential buyers walk through your house, they want to imagine what it will be like to live in the home. Even if you can’t get rid of all of your home’s clutter, try to at least minimize the amount of things you have on shelves and on counters to present a clean, neat appearance to buyers. Remember, if buyers see a cluttered house, they wonder if it's too small for them and they may not make an offer. If they do make an offer, it's typically at a lower price than if your house is clear of clutter.

5. Advertise, advertise, advertise

Your agent will be the first to tell you: you need to focus on advertising. Remember that buyers probably won’t drive by your house and see the “For Sale” sign in your yard. Rather, they’ll find your house online, in a newspaper or on a brochure. List your house on as many real estate websites as possible, share it on Facebook and try to promote it as much as possible for the best results. 

6. Price fairly

You’ve spent years developing memories in your house, so it’s normal to want to attach a price tag to those. Unfortunately, the reality is that you can’t afford to ask too much for your house. The day your house goes on the market, it becomes a depreciating asset. Statistics show that overpriced homes sit on the market longer and end up selling for a lower price than if they had been priced right from the get go. Remember that buyers are looking for a good deal. They want to know that they’re getting their money’s worth when they buy a house. Take a look at what other houses are selling for in your area and price your home accordingly. If you aren’t sure how much to ask for your house, don’t be afraid to contact a real estate agent to ask for help.

7. Don’t disregard the first offer

One mistake many sellers make is to turn down an offer in hopes a better one will come along. The reality is that often times, the first offer is the best offer. If your house was priced right to begin with, an offer may come in quickly; that's a good thing! Sell your home to the first person who makes an offer that is reasonable and that you’re comfortable with.