How Long Does It Take To Sell A House? Understanding The Nuances Of Real Estate

Do you recall the exact moment when the question “how long does it take to sell a house?” popped into your brain? Have you already spent days waiting for serious buyers to show up to look at the home you have for sale, or are you in the planning stages of listing your home for sale now? Regardless of where you fall on the spectrum, the question is worth considering.
You will be able to sell a home when several factors come together at the right time. To be honest, some of them will be in your control and others will not.

Real estate statistics show it can take anywhere from 60 to 90 days to close the deal on a house. However, the numbers are relative and likely to vary for each sale. Learning the process and getting a better understanding of how long each step takes is a great way to start on the road to sell your home.

Here is Everything You Need to Know:

Staging The House (1-2 Months):

When you finally decide to sell your house, the first step is to stage it for selling. Staging means to make the house presentable and appealing. It involves some work and, therefore, consumes the most time.

If the house is not in bad shape and you’re only dealing with normal wear and tear issues, the staging phase could shrink to one month. You are not supposed to rebuild the house, rather just tend to the necessary issues. The best strategy for this step is to invite your agent to your house and ask what needs to be done. The agent will highlight the key issues and can help you schedule a plan to rectify them.

Or If You Have Not Hired An Agent So Far, Consider the Following Things Before Listing Your House:

• Declutter

We have a tendency to store everything, even things we know we are never going to use again. Our closets and basements are full of either extra clothes or broken appliances. Get rid of them! You may find a storage place where you can store things offsite or even donate them. Or, if you want, you can resell them and turn that clutter into cash. Whatever you choose, the result will be the same your house will look spacious.

• Get the Basics Done

When you live in the house, operational and/or structural issues will arise. In some cases, things like leaking pipes, broken locks, or cracked tiles don’t get fixed because they are not given the same priority.

As a result, the issues linger on. If you have any such issues around and you’re planning to sell, it is about time to get the basics done.

• De-Personalize

It is always best to remove your family photos from the shelves and favorite paintings from the walls.

• Paint the Walls with Neutral Colors

You may favor darker colors, but giving the potential buyer a refreshing impression is a must. It’s in your best interest to paint the walls in neutral colors.

Depending on the amount of work, the process may take anywhere from one or two months before your house is fully staged.

Now you are ready to list your home! You have done the major part which was in your control. Once you list your home, the ball is no longer in your court. Here are some factors that will dictate how long will it take before buyers come knocking:

1- How Much is the Sales Price?

This is the first place where sellers go wrong. To sell a home sooner, price your home right at the beginning.

What generally happens is that sellers want to get the most out of their investment and ask for a higher price, not a reasonable one. This distracts potential buyers and so the house lingers on the market for a long time.

To reduce the time, set the right price of your home when you list it for sale.

2- Is the Home in Good Condition?

You have already worked on the basics repairs in your home, but did you skimp on anything? As a seller, you have to reveal all the facts about the property to the buyer. The process could take even longer if the buyer asks you about specific maintenance that you didn’t consider earlier. In that case, “how long will it take me to sell a house” will depend on the nature of the work that must be completed.

3- Are You Selling at Prime Sales Season?

Timing is everything when you list your home; it is very important to think about how long your home could potentially sit on the market before getting potential buyers. Look at how the real estate market is behaving at the time you list your home for sale. Is it really a seller’s market now?

To gauge the market, see if there are more properties on the market than the buyers. Or, look at how long properties are staying on the market.

Observing seasonal cycles is also very important. There are different seasonal cycles for different cities. Usually, spring is considered the seller’s market. Look for yourself and time your listing accordingly.

4- How Experienced is Your Agent?

Last but not the least, the experience of your agent can play a huge role in how long it takes for your house to sell. The agent is the one who makes things happen. Hiring an experienced agent does wonder for effectively reducing the time it takes to sell your property.

Conclusion:

Selling time varies by property. There is no standard answer for how long it takes to sell a house because it depends on everyone’s unique circumstances.

Having said all that, it is always better to look for the factors that are in your control such as staging the home and the condition of the home. Spend some time maintaining the house and it will help reduce the time it takes to sell the property.