Do you want to be on the fast-track to selling your home? While there’s an average number of days a house is usually on the market – 65 to 93 days, to be precise, in 2018 – according to real estate reports (most realtors in Myrtle Beach, S.C., know these numbers by heart by the neighborhood), there are other factors that can help speed up the process.

There are, of course, factors that are beyond your control, but our list also includes things you can do to pick up the pace:

Listing price

If your home is listed just under the market value, it could attract multiple offers, which tends to push up the price – depends on how determined your potential buyer is. The price range your home falls in also makes a difference (lower ranges often sell faster) because more buyers can afford lower priced homes.

The cleaner, the better

Homes that are cleaner, inside and out, sell faster. Potential buyers don’t want to be faced with a mess of repairs. Finish off those home projects you’ve put aside before you put your house on the market because it will stick out like a sore thumb to prospects. Buyers also have to be able to imagine how they’ll live in your house, so it shouldn’t still look like it belongs to you. Store away half of your furniture – especially large pieces – and declutter family portraits, sentimental pieces and collections. Also, a staged home sells 88% faster and sells for 20% more than a nonstaged one.

Location

There’s always a higher demand for homes in hot markets, like homes for sale in Conway, S.C. If your home is listed in a highly desirable neighborhood or metro area, it may just spend a few weeks on the market before it sells; slower markets may take twice as long. And that’s usually directly correlated with whether or not your home is located within a high-quality school district. Traffic noise and less-than-desirable views may also detract home buyers. On the other hand, an urban home with convenient walkability to public transportation is a prime location.

Inventory

The math makes sense. Homes located in an area with a shortage of homes for sale will be in higher demand and snagged more quickly; those communities with a higher inventory will have fewer buyers that slows down the selling process because buyers have more choices and can take their time. (Which is why you should always keep your home for sale in tip-top shape to stand out.) A benefit of a sellers’ market is that bidding wars mean offers will come in above the list price.

’Tis the Season

It’s not just the where of your home, it’s the when. Meaning, in general, homes sell faster in the spring and summer months. The warmer weather draws families out for home shopping and, if the price is right, they’ll be able to settle into their new home in plenty of time before school starts. Home sales in the winter, however, (December through February) tend to be sluggish.

Contact Paige Bird at 843.450.4773 or paige@paigebird.com to schedule an appointment to guide you through the process of buying or selling your home.