Things Listing Agents Do To Sell Your Home Fast

What do listing agents do to sell your home quickly? Here are seven top things all listing agents do to get your listing sold fast with the greatest return. 

In the world of real estate, there are specific strategies and techniques that Listing Agents use to get your listing sold quickly with the greatest amount of return. Having an experienced Listing Agent who has a streamlined process and timeline will be important if you need to sell your home quickly.

Your home is the largest asset for many families in America, so being able to sell your home with the highest amount of return is the most important factor for all homeowners. This article will break down the proven strategies that most experienced Listing Agents find to be the most effective for their clients that set them apart from Selling agents. 

As you read through this article, you may want to start considering which strategies you will want to execute in the sale of your home. The first step in the home-selling process is starting with the right listing agent, so be sure to have a trusted Realtor in your corner to help guide and advise you through this process.

Here is what listing agents to sell your home fast 

1. Competitive Pricing and Property Analysis

Your listing agent should spend some time researching comparable properties and analyzing the home sales in the area. Some things to consider are how quickly they are selling. Are they selling at, below, or above the list price? If over list price, what is the average percentage over are they selling?

All of these considerations will paint a picture of which trends in each level of pricing perform the best, and ultimately, if you're trying to sell your home fast, your listing agent will determine which pricing strategy performed the most successfully. 

2. Professional Photography

If you're working with an experienced listing agent, they have connections with multiple professional photographers specializing in real estate photography or videography. Having professional photos will significantly affect how your home gets marketed.

Homes with professional photography will be performed. According to the National Association of Realtors, in a 2021 study, 89% of buyers found photos to be the most important tool in their home search. In fact, for many buyers, this is the only tool they will rely on second to hiring a professional real estate agent.

According to The Washington Post, 84% of buyers won't consider a property without listing photos.

Professional photography is the most effective marketing tool within the marketing budget, and these photos can be shared on social media. Due to its impact, your listing agent will want to spend a considerable amount of the budget on professional photography. 

Professional real estate photographers know how to catch natural light and emphasize space, transforming ordinary spaces into extraordinary ones. 

Depending on which professional you choose, professional real estate photography in the Raleigh, NC, area will cost between $200 and $550, with additional add-ons available.

On average, homes marketed with aerial drone photography will sell about 65% faster than those marketed without aerial images. You can explore that option when considering the add-on packages you want.

3. Listing Your Home During Peak Market Times

If you have time to wait until the prime market, your listing agent will suggest a month or time of year that they have seen the most activity for their respective market areas. Spring and Summer are the busiest times for home sales. 

In southern states like North Carolina, the spring market has been warming up earlier, starting in February and continuing through the Spring and Summer months. With more buyers in the market during those months, it has been proven to drive up demand and pricing. Meanwhile, the fall and winter months, starting in September and October, have not performed as well. 

For many reasons, many sellers should consult with their trusted real estate agent to develop a timeline and determine which month and time of year would be best for their micro market. 

In addition to the time of year, there are considerations as to which day of the week you should list your home for sale. According to the National Association of Realtors, Thursdays and Fridays are the best days to list your home on the MLS. 

4. Make Necessary Upgrades

Your Listing Agent should come to your home in the initial phases and evaluate your property. During this time, they may take notes or photos and then work on a list of upgrades that you should do to provide the best return on investment.

Many times, significant upgrades are optional. Changing out light fixtures and ceiling fans and applying a fresh coat of paint may be all you need to create the illusion of a turn-key property that accentuates your home's positive features. This will create a more modern, clean, and neutral palette to appeal to the most significant number of buyers in your market's buyer pool.

5. Make The Home Less Personal

As part of the analysis of your property, you should also ask your listing agent which items should stay and which ones should go into storage.

Personal photography, framed memorabilia, and anything with your name should not be left out. Listing agents want to create a more neutral space and protect your confidentiality. While buyers can always find out who lives there, we don't want buyers to know too much about our personal affairs.

You will want to reduce the number of shoes and clothing items in your closets by about 50%. Start donating and selling items you don't want to keep and store what you can while waiting to list your home.

You want buyers to feel that there is ample storage for all of your personal items, so having a closet that looks half empty will help each buyer who walks into your home feel that there is plenty of room for their things.

6. Staging

Once you have finished donating, selling, and storing as many of your belongings as possible, the last step before professional photography is your Listing Agent's approach to staging the home. An excellent real estate agent will complete this step.

You can often repurpose and stage with items found right within your home. Mirrors, green plants, and simple and neutral decor will soften the space and enhance your professional photography. 

According to the National Association of Realtors, 81% of buyer agents state that staging a listing helps their buyers visualize the property as their own. Staging the living room was the most crucial, followed by the primary bedroom and kitchen space. 

The home's main spaces should be the focal point, while secondary bedrooms, laundry rooms, and powder rooms may not need more than a fresh hand towel or throw blanket. 

7. Curbside Appeal

First impressions are critical in real estate. This starts at the curbside. Buyers all over the country love to drive by properties when they see something they like online. Even with the best prep on the interior, if your exterior paints a different picture from what you're seeing online, this could cause a buyer to pause. 

Curbside appeal is comprised of the landscaping, exterior of the home, paint, and general aesthetic, so if there are areas on the exterior of the home that need some extra TLC, your Listing Agent will most likely make recommendations for improvements.

Many easy ways to freshen up the outdoor space would be to fertilize the lawn, freshen up the mulch in your garden beds, pull any weeds, and powerwash the siding. Adding fresh potted plants to the entrance before listing your home is a great way to brighten the space without breaking the bank. 

Any great Listing Agent will recommend ways to improve the exterior of your home as part of their property analysis and will account for this in the initial home preparation recommendations.

They will often have a list of vendors on speed dial who are reliable, dependable, affordable, and who work locally. They have developed a relationship with you, so you know that not only will they get the job done to their standards, but they will also be able to get it done quickly so you can get your home sold fast.

Methodology

We used data and information from The National Association of Realtors, Quicken Loans, and The Washington Post to determine what listing agents do to sell your home quickly. 

FAQs

What is the secret of a fast sale of a property?

The most effective way to sell your home fast is in the pricing strategy. Pricing your home competitively will help drive up interest in the buyers in your buyer pool, which could increase the chances of buyers bidding against each other.

If a house is priced too high, some buyers may be cut out of that pricing tier, leaving less room for negotiating if a buyer thinks the price was too high to begin with. Your Listing Agent will want the buyers to move the needle on the price without having to chase the market of buyers. 

How can I market my house to sell fast?

You should hire a licensed and experienced Realtor who will help you prepare and advise you on all aspects of the preparation, pricing, and timeline for marketing your home to the MLS.

According to the National Association of Realtors, 89% of sellers used a real estate agent to sell their home, 7% of homes were sold For Sale By Owner (also known as FSBO), and less than 1% of homes were sold to an Ibuyer.

What is the quickest a house sale can go through?

In the Raleigh, NC, area, most homes close between 30 and 45 days. For lending purposes, most lenders need at least 21-30 days to complete the appraisal and underwriting processes before the loan can close.

Your Listing Agent will consult with the closing attorney to determine the fastest closing time for cash transactions. Many times, they can close in as little as 7-14 days.

How quickly do most houses sell?

Most homes will sell within 30-90 days. According to Triangle MLS, our local Raleigh market, for the month of March 2024, had an average of 49 days on the market until the sale.

This accounts for the days from showings to closing. It shows the home under contract for 30 days with about 19 days on the market before an accepted offer. Ideally, your Listing Agent would like to have the home under contract in under 21 days.

Things Listing Agents Do To Sell Your Home Fast - Final Thoughts

When interviewing your listing agent, you will want to find out their strategy for selling your home fast. They have most likely developed a steam lined approach that they know has proven effective results to help you get the highest closed list price for your home.

Be sure to ask your agent about their pricing, preparation, photography, and staging recommendations, as all agents will have a different approach. If you want to sell your home and need to speak to an experienced Listing Agent, contact our agents here at Raleigh Realty. We are here to help in any way we can.