How to speed up the home selling process

Selling a home can seem like a daunting task full of factors that are outside your control. You may find yourself stressed about how long it will take to find a buyer and if they’ll make an offer that matches your listing price. The home selling process can be even more overwhelming if you need to sell your house quickly.

Needing to sell a home on a deadline due to work or personal reasons can cause both emotional and financial strain. It can also put you at a disadvantage when it comes to negotiating with a buyer and forces some sellers to significantly reduce their price. If you’ve found yourself in this position and need to sell your home quickly, we’ve got your back. Here are some tips on how to speed up the home selling process.

How long does it typically take to sell a house?

The amount of time it takes to sell a house can vary depending on market conditions and the property itself. According to data from the National Association of REALTORS®, the median amount of time homes stayed listed on the market in August 2025 was 60 days.

If you’re planning to buy a new home with the money from your home sale, you may be concerned about how the timing will align. Some owners choose to take out a bridge loan which provides them with the money to make a down payment on a new home. A bridge loan is a short-term loan designed to bridge the gap between a home purchase and home sale. Once you sell the previous home, you can use the money to pay off the bridge loan.

6 tactics for a quick home sale

If you need to sell your home relatively quickly, there are some steps you can take to help expedite the process. Pricing the home competitively, marketing the listing, and staying flexible on buyer terms can help achiever a faster offer and home sale.

1. Work with a qualified real estate professional

Your real estate agent is a key teammate who can help you answer the question: Can I sell my house fast? A good real estate agent can help you:

• Determine a competitive listing price
• Stage the home
• Get professional photos of the home taken
• List the home the on market
• Publicize the listing
• Hold open houses and private tours
• Find a buyer
• Negotiate the terms of the deal
• Facilitate the closing

The same data from NAR found that 90% of sellers worked with a real estate agent and only 6% were for sale by owner. Your agent should have experience in the local market and a good selling strategy. It’s also helpful to avoid real estate agents who have so many clients that they can’t prioritize your home sale.

2. Set the right price

Determining the right listing price can have a big impact on how quickly your house sells. Your agent can help you research the local market to find out what similar homes in the area have sold for recently. Your agent can also help you better understand market conditions.

If it’s a seller’s market, where demand from buyers exceeds the supply of homes on the market, you’ll have an advantage. Your home may sell quickly, and you could even receive multiple offers that result in a bidding war. If it’s a buyer’s market, where the supply of homes exceeds the demand for them, it may take more time. You may receive an offer that’s below the listing price and need to be flexible when negotiating. You may have to lower your price, but it could be worth it to complete the sale.

3. Prepare your home

If you want to sell your house quicker, it’s important to get it ready to be shown. Here are some tips for how to prepare:

• Deep clean the home.
• Remove clutter.
• Complete repairs.
• Consider repainting.
• Depersonalize the rooms and décor.
• Boost curb appeal.
• Stage the home.
• Hire a professional photographer.

According to NAR, nearly all millennial home buyers start their search online. Staging a photo-ready property can draw attention to your listing and attract buyers. You may also need to stay flexible when it comes time to show the home to interested buyers.

4. Look for a cash offer

A cash buyer is someone who doesn’t need financing because they have the funds to pay for the home up front with cash. Some cash buyers use the money they have in savings and investments, while others use the funds from the sale of another property. Buying a house with cash eliminates the mortgage process or need for a lender to be involved, which can speed up the closing process considerably.

Be sure to require cash buyers to show proof of funds, often called a POF letter. This document is from their financial institution and proves that they have the money to complete the purchase. Some cash buyers may ask you to reduce the sale price, so be sure to establish with your real estate agent how low you’re willing to go.

5. Consider a quick sale

A quick sale in real estate is an option for sellers who need to sell a home as soon as possible due to financial difficulties, life events, or the condition of the property. In the interest of selling the home quickly, the seller might list the home as is, which means they don’t intend to make any repairs or changes. This also often means the seller will reduce the price below market value to incentivize a quick offer and expedite the process. Homes listed for quick sale can be bought up by real estate investors who buy homes for cash at a discount.

It's important to note that sellers looking to list their homes for a quick sale should beware of opportunistic buyers who are looking to exploit their need to sell urgently. While it’s more common for a real estate investment company to be open to purchasing a home as is, don’t sell yourself short with an offer too far below listing price.

6. Conduct a short sale, if necessary

A real estate short sale can be a last resort option for home owners who are behind on their mortgage payments and want to avoid foreclosure. With a short sale, the home is sold for an amount less than the full amount owed on the mortgage. However, a short sale requires approval from the lender, who might prefer this option to a more costly and time-consuming foreclosure process.

Short sales typically occur if the homeowner no longer has enough equity in the home to pay off the mortgage. You’ll need to submit a hardship letter to the lender explaining why you can no longer make your mortgage payments and include documentation as proof. While a short sale is not a favorable option, it can be much less damaging to your finances and credit score than a foreclosure.

The bottom line: Find an option that works for you

Sometimes, life happens, and you have to sell your home quickly. In an ideal situation, it would be because you need to relocate for an exciting new job and want to offload your old home as soon as possible. Unfortunately, other homeowners find themselves in a more challenging circumstance where they need to sell their home quickly out of financial urgency. While you can’t control the state of the market, there are steps you can take to speed up selling your home.  

If you’re selling your home and need to find a new one quickly, Rocket MortgageÒ can help. Get started on applying for your new mortgage today.