If you’re wondering how to sell your house fast, you probably don’t have a whole lot of time for chitchat. You have zero time to spend researching the current housing market and pondering how it’ll affect your home sale. You just want the guidance—plain and simple—that will help you find a buyer as fast as possible. Well, here’s the good news: It is possible to sell a home fast, and the experts say it comes down to a few key to-do’s to take care of before your home hits the market.

If you’re ready to unload your abode, heed the advice of the experts below. Of course, we can’t guarantee a quick sale, but putting these tips into practice definitely won’t hurt your chances of securing a buyer.

1. Tidy up to make your house stand out

If you’re looking to sell quickly, you’re going to want to start cleaning, especially before those listing photos are taken.

“Pristine houses are more attractive to a buyer, which will keep the buyer excited,” says Debi Benoit, principal and broker at Benoit Mizner Simon & Co. Real Estate in Wellesley, MA. “And an excited buyer always pays more and usually will write an offer quickly.”

That means getting rid of clutter both inside the house and in the yard and putting some elbow grease into making everything look its best. Clean from top to bottom in every room of the house. Wipe down cabinets and drawers, remove any scuffs from the walls, give all kitchen appliances a once-over, clean air vents, shampoo your carpets, and then sweep, vacuum, or mop every inch of the house.

It will take you several days of work, but the payoff will be worth it. Trust us.

2. Have your house staged

Want to go the extra mile beyond cleaning? Consider having your house staged, a way of decorating it so it’s more attractive to buyers.

“It’s best to present the home in its best light,” explains Nile Lundgren, an agent with Trent & Company in New York City. He once had a listing—unstaged—on the market for five months without ever getting an offer.

“We took it off the market, staged it, reshot photos, and put it back on the market,” he says. “Within two weeks, we got into a bidding war and signed a contract shortly thereafter.”

Staging typically takes anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the availability of rental furniture, the movers, and the installers. If you’re facing a major time crunch, Lundren suggests focusing on staging the beds, sofas, tables, chairs, and art—items that make a house feel like a home where people can live and get comfortable.

3. Hire a professional photographer to take listing photos

It may feel like hiring a professional will be a waste of money; after all, your cell phone has a great camera, right? But that can be a sale killer, says Rosamaria Acuña, a Realtor® with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties in La Jolla.

“First impressions are everything and need to be done right,” she says. “A professional photographer has all the tools to capture the right lighting and make everything look brighter and inviting.” The pros also have wide-angle lenses to fit the entire room in the photo.

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