How Long Does It Take to Sell a House?
Putting your house on the market can be a stressful time, full of questions. One of those common questions is "how long does it take to sell a house?"
The average amount of time the home selling process takes is 65 days. While there's no guarantee your house will sell within this timeframe, there are some moves you can make to help ensure that it does.
Let's look into those today so you can get started on unpacking in your new home.
The Steps of the Home Selling Process
To understand how long it takes to sell a home, you first need to understand all of the necessary steps of the home selling process. It's not as simple as putting your house on the market and waiting for offers.
Once you've posted your home listing, the process includes:
Accepting the Offer
On average, a home will be on the market for about a month or two before you receive an offer that you choose to accept. The timeframe for accepting an offer varies, but you typically have up to 3 days to decide, depending on the contract.
Waiting for the Home Inspection
Once you've accepted an offer, the buyer will have to schedule a home inspection. This process typically takes the inspector a couple of hours and then another couple of days to submit the report.
Almost There...Closing Time
The average time it takes a buyer to close on a mortgage is around 30 to 45 days. During this time all parties are completing the necessary paperwork, from the underwriting process to title reports. If all goes well, you can expect to close within two months.
How Long Does It Take To Sell A House? Some Deciding Factors
Now that you know what goes into the process, let's talk about some ways you can help move the process along. A couple of items within your control include:
Condition of Your Home
The shape your home is in can make all the difference in how quickly the process goes. If it needs work, the home inspection will reflect this and some fixes may need to be made before the sale can proceed.
Before putting your house on the market, make any minor fixes, and stage your home. This includes arranging the decor and furniture, painting, and purchasing items, like plants, to help set the ambiance.
Asking Price
If you're priced too high, you may not get many offers right away, meaning your home will sit on the market. This can hurt you—the longer your home is on the market, the less desirable it looks.
Before you list your home, you'll need to hire an appraiser to get a professional valuation of your home. With this knowledge, you'll know exactly what your home is worth and your agent can price it to sell.
Sell Your House Quickly with These Tips
So, how long does it take to sell a house? That depends. Now that you know the factors that will impact sale time, you're on your way toward selling your home faster.
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