Selling your home can be a stressful process, especially if you’re counting on the proceeds of the sale to help make a down payment on a new home. If you’re looking to sell your home, you’ll likely want to see that sale happen as quickly as possible. After all, it isn’t easy to be paying two mortgages at once. Here are 12 helpful tricks to get your home into the hands of its new owners as fast as possible.

Price it right

The goal is to get as much as you can for your home, and ironically, that means pricing it lower than the going rate. Find out the true worth of your home, and then lower the price by 10%. You’ll have the buyers rushing to your home, and then bidding up the price to what you really wanted. They may even offer more.

Choose the right agent

Do your research before making a final decision on a real estate agent. Agents should have an excellent track record including lots of recent sales, being updated on the latest market trends and knowing how to use technology to get the word out about your house. Ask for references and credentials before making a decision. You can also help market your home yourself. Let everyone know you’re selling your home. Post an attractive picture of your house on your social media platforms, tell your friends to tell their friends and be sure to speak in glowing terms about your house to anyone who asks for details.

Let the light shine

After location, the amount of light in your home is the second-biggest selling factor. Change your lampshades to a lighter shade, add more lights where necessary and use the maximum possible wattage for every light fixture in your home. You can also scrub your windows, remove the drapes and let the sunshine in.

Rent a storage unit

You’re going to want your house to look spacious. In order to achieve that, your house should be clutter-free and your closets should be cleaned and organized too. To do this, you’ll probably need to get rid of half the stuff around your home. Consider renting a mini storage unit to place your belongings in, until your home is sold. As a bonus, you’ll have a leg up on the packing when it’s time to move.

Ramp up your curb appeal

First impressions matter the most. Attract buyers by sprucing up the exterior of your home. Splurge on a patio set, trim your shrubs, plant some flowers along the walkway or paint your fence. You can also decorate your yard with festive seasonal décor. You’ll likely get a 100% return on the money you spend.

Focus on the kitchen

The kitchen is where it’s at. Buyers will spend the longest time here, and the offered price will fluctuate according to how updated your kitchen is. Depending on the state of your kitchen, you may want to do a quick refresh, including a fresh coat of paint, new cabinets and more. For example, replacing your old countertops will run you a few thousand dollars, but a buyer can easily shave $10,000 off the asking price by claiming your kitchen is outdated.

Upgrade, but don’t go overboard

In addition to the kitchen, you’ll want your entire home to look its best. It’s a good idea to do basic repairs and some remodeling to make your home sell faster. But don’t go overboard, or you may end up losing money. A paint job and some new light fixtures, door handles and rugs can do the trick.

Make it sparkle

Don’t skimp on this one. Give your entire home a deep cleaning before showing it to buyers, scrubbing and buffing until every corner gleams. Nothing turns a potential buyer off like grimy counters or streaks on the bathroom mirror.

Hide your pets

Not everyone is an animal lover. If you’ve got pets at home, hide the evidence. Don’t leave out a bowl of dog food or a half-chewed ball of yarn. If you’re hosting an open house, send your pets to a friend’s place for the day or spend the day at the park while your agent takes care of the rest.

Time it right

Right now, Denver is a popular place to buy a home. That’s why it’s important to consider the right time to sell. Housing inventory and mortgage rates can vary month to month, so it’s helpful to be aware of Denver’s current housing market trends. According to Norada Real Estate Investments, the Denver Metro area currently remains a seller’s market. The median price for a single-family home sold for $595,000 in January 2022. Due to a large demand for housing and a lack of inventory, the housing market is expected to experience double-digit appreciation in 2022.

Hire a professional to help you set up your home

Unless you’ve got an awesome eye for design, you might want to hire a professional to help you stage the house. They can help you arrange your furniture so it maximizes space and has the best possible light. You’ll also want to ensure your real estate agent hires someone to take professional photographs of your home to get the best views for your listing.

Use extra rooms

Do you have a spare bedroom storing your baby gear or boxes of your college stuff? Now’s the time to clear it out. Set up an empty room as something useful, like a guest room, an exercise room or even an office room. It will look a lot more attractive to potential buyers than a room full of stuff.

You’re all set. Now get out there, put your home’s best face forward and good luck selling it quickly. And once you’re ready to buy a new home, talk to your credit union to help you find the right new mortgage for you. For a limited time, Partner Colorado is waiving the origination fee when you purchase a new home. The origination fee is typically 1% or more of the borrowed amount which can add up to big savings!