Home Seller Information

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO SELL MY HOME?

One frequent questions I hear from Homeowners is, “How long will it take to sell my house?”

It’s a fair question, especially if you’ve already started imagining what life might look like in your next home or want to plan around a specific moving date.

The short answer is: it depends on a few key factors.

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While a home going under contract on Day 0 sounds impressive, it’s often a red flag that the home was underpriced. 

What Really Impacts Time to Sell?

Selling a home is a process, and while some homes go quickly, others take a little longer based on a few key factors.

I’ll walk you through what impacts the timeline from listing to closing and what to expect so that you feel prepared for each stage of the process.

Setting Realistic Expectations

When estimating how long it will take to sell, we usually look at three main factors: the condition of your home, its location, and the price to value ratio.  Each of these factors are not seprate, each one interplays with the others.

The Real Estate Market

To put it simply, the overall Real Estate Market sets the limits on what is and is not possible.

For example, in the super hectic days of 2021 and 2022, when 20 to 40 offers were common on one house within the first week, the expectations were that the house will sell above the asking price as long as it was within $20,000 to $40,000 of comparables.  MANY agents left tens of thousands on the table for their clients by not understanding how to effectively price a home in a rapidly accellerating market.

Conversely, in the oversupply of 2009 – 2011, the home needed to be in good shape as well as priced significantly below other homes for sale to have a good change of selling.  Homeowners were chasing falling home prices not because they wanted to but because the market dictated that if you wanted to sell then that’s what you had to do.

 

Condition of the Home

Homes in great condition typically move faster because the largest number of buyers would be interested.. 

Buyers love move-in-ready homes, and if yours is in tip-top shape, it could make a big difference in how fast it sells. That means everything from the curb appeal to the state of the interior matters. 

If there are visible repairs needed, like a worn-out roof, dated fixtures, or other maintenance issues, this will typically reduce the buyer pool and the home will take longer to sell, especially if you’re aiming for top dollar. 

But take heart!  You don’t have to fully renovate your home!  The tradeoff is either being content to wait for the perfect buyer, or reduce the price to enlarge the buyer pool.

 

Location, Location, Location

It’s an old saying in real estate, but it holds true—location is key!

Homes in desirable, high-demand neighborhoods or with outstanding features (ahem… waterfront) have higher natrual interest and thus often sell faster. But even things like proximity to shopping, public transportation, parks, or views all attract buyers. 

Homes in more remote or less popular areas can still sell quickly however they must be priced accordingly!

Listing Price

Sure, it’s obvious that that dropping the asking price for a home will make it sell more quickly.

But the reason you are even considering paying a professional to assist you with the sale of your home, is the so that the home can be sold for the most money possible within a reasonable time frame.

On the topic of price… There is a price at which your home will simply never sell.  Think about being asked to pay $10,000 for a simple can of coke.

However, if you drop the price, you eventually get to the point where EVERYONE would want to buy your home.  Put a price of $1 on your home and you’ll have people crawling through your windows with signed contracts!

 

Skill of a Real Estate Professional

The expertise and skill that comes from a Real Estate Professional is understanding how these different factors affect each other, being familiar with the current state of the market, as well as understanding how Home Buyers in your neighborhood are going to see and evaluate your home compared to the current competition.

Then end goal being to sell the home within your timeframe, for the most money possible.  Bonus points if we can also make the process as headache free as possible.

Most people will own 2-5 homes in their lifetime.  I am currently closing that many transactions each and every month.

 

What’s a Typical Timeline to Sell a Home?

If you’re looking for an average timeline, most homes take between 40 to 60 days to go from listing to closing. This includes the time it takes to market the property, receive offers, negotiate with buyers, and go through the closing process.

Week 1: Listing and Initial Marketing Push

When we go live with your listing, the first week is all about making a strong impression. With today’s digital tools, your home is marketed online to reach as many potential buyers as possible.

 I typically recommend scheduling open houses and showings during the first week to generate interest quickly. 

A well-prepared listing with quality photos and a clear, detailed description can make a big difference in generating early offers.

 

Weeks 1-2: Receiving Offers

If the home is competitively priced, offers should start coming in within the first one to two weeks. 

This is usually a positive sign that the price is close to the true market value. However, if the home sits on the market for several weeks without serious interest, it might be a signal to reassess the price. 

Some buyers might be hesitant if they see a home that’s been on the market for too long, so I always monitor interest levels and provide feedback on how it’s tracking.

 

Week 3 and Beyond: Negotiating and Going Under Contract

Once you receive an offer (or a few), we’ll go into the negotiation phase. In some cases, you may get multiple offers, which can work to your advantage by encouraging competition among buyers. Other times, we may negotiate terms to ensure that the final agreement works best for you. Once the terms are agreed upon, your home is officially under contract, and the closing process begins.

Closing Process: What Happens in the Final 30 Days?

After going under contract, we enter the closing process, which typically takes about 30 days. During this time, several steps need to happen: inspections, appraisals, title searches, and any other required paperwork. If any issues come up in the inspection, the buyer may request repairs or ask for a concession in price to cover those fixes. This part of the process can feel slow, but each step is necessary to ensure the sale goes through smoothly.

A Word About “0 Days on Market”

You might hear some agents talk about getting homes under contract the same day they’re listed or even before the official listing goes live. 

While a home going under contract on Day 0 sounds impressive, it’s often a red flag that the home was underpriced.

Zero Days on Market doesn’t necessarily mean the agent has pulled off a feat; it could mean the seller missed out on getting the best possible price. Homes priced correctly for the market typically take at least a few days or even a week or two to find the right buyer at the right price.

For most sellers to realize the highest price possible, the ideal scenario is to receive an offer within the first 1 to 4 weeks of listing. 

This timing often signals that the price is competitive and we’re in the right range. When a home sells too quickly, I recommend digging a bit deeper to make sure it wasn’t significantly underpriced, potentially leaving money on the table.

Relevant Links - Selling Your Home

FAQs: Selling Your Home Timeframe

Here are a few common questions I get about selling timelines:

  • What if I need to sell faster than 40 days?

    If you're on a super tight timeline, I do have direct access to cash buyers that will be able to rapidly close for significantly more than anyone calling you out of the blue.

  • What if my home isn't getting any offers?

    If a few weeks pass and we haven’t received any offers, I recommend revisiting first the marketing and the competition Feedback from buyers during showings can be useful, but there's a lot of reading between the lines as you rarely get honest feedback.

  • How can I ensure my home sells for the best price?

    There is no substitute for an experienced professional when selling a home. A well-prepared listing and strategic marketing plan is absolutely critical.

Thinking of Selling?

If you’re considering selling and want a Listing Plan tailored to your home, I’d be happy to help!

Just reach out via the form below, and we can chat. 

We’ll go over the details of your home, discuss your timeline, and answer any questions you may have. From there, we’ll put together a plan that works for you.

Selling a home can be a journey, but with the right approach and realistic expectations, we’ll get you to the finish line.

Ready to get started?

If you have questions not answered here, or any concerns about the process of buying or selling your home, feel free to contact me via this contact for or schedule a phone call for a time that works for you.

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