How to sell a house faster

According to the government, the average time it takes to sell a home is two to three months.

However, there are fluctuations across the country – it largely depends on the local market. As research by the property company Rightmove has shown, a seller in Cambridge might have to wait for 27 days, while a seller in Powys could wait for up to 113.

Now that is a large discrepancy.

But even with these regional issues in mind, is there a way to sell a home more quickly? Yes.

Let us explain:

• Price your property competitively

If your asking price is too high, you could be left with an unsold property for a long time – as eMoov estate agent Russell Quirk says: “Whether we like it or not, the fact is that the market will determine the value of your property.”

A good estate agent can help you get that price right. Since the agent takes a percentage of the sale, it is in their best interests to get the highest amount possible, in the quickest time possible.

• Choose the right time to sell

Timing is everything, especially in the world of property – and one ever-popular question about timing is fairly straightforward to answer.

If you want a fast sale, when is the best time to sell? All the experts agree that it is the spring.

The reasons for this are:

• Higher buyer demand – easier to get viewings
• Nicer weather – property looks more attractive
• Better timing – between winter and summer holiday seasons

So if you have the luxury of waiting until the spring, you could enjoy a speedy sale.

• Prepare the home for viewers

It’s important to make sure the property is in the best condition – a process often known as “staging”.

Writing for the Telegraph, Emma Mitchell, tells the selling story of Celia Falconer, who is a publisher based in London and who is a hoarder.

Falconer knew that a flat in the same block had sold for £193,000. But when she looked to sell her home, she had her reservations.

“Every spare surface, every table, chair and corner of her home was covered with books,” said Mitchell. So Falconer decided to do something about it.

In total, 59 boxes of clutter were removed from the property.

And only one week after Falconer’s flat went on the market, she received an offer for £245,000.

A viewable home is a sellable home.

Are you selling to buy a new property?

Read our free guide to surviving the housing buying process.