How Do I Sell My House Fast?

Even in a hot market where "for sale" signs don't last long, you might need to be sure your house will sell quickly. There are several approaches you can take to sell your house fast; the right one for you may depend less on your exact timeline and more on what you prioritize in addition to speed. Here are four ways to accelerate the home selling process.

» MORE: Selling a house, step by step

Sell to an iBuyer

An iBuyer is a company that will buy your home directly with a cash offer. The "i" isn't just to sound like an Apple product; it stands for "instant." With most iBuyers, you fill out an online form, upload some photos of your home and receive an offer within days. One big caveat: iBuyers don't operate in all parts of the country, and they only buy certain types of homes. Usually, when you enter your address, an iBuyer site will immediately tell you whether your place is eligible.

iBuyers let you choose your closing date. This can be helpful if you're simultaneously buying and selling, but it also allows you to go for speed. Without a mortgage involved, you may be able to close with an iBuyer in as little as 7 to 10 days. Minimum time to close depends on the iBuyer, your location and details of the home sale. You'll also have to pay a service fee to the iBuyer, which generally ranges from 5% to 12% of the total offer value. The cost of any repairs the iBuyer has to do will also be deducted from the final amount that you receive.

The downside of selling to an iBuyer? Since you're getting just the iBuyer's offer, you don't know how much you might have received for your home on the open market. But if moving as quickly as possible is your priority, you may be willing to trade potentially higher profits in favor of a predictable timeline.

» MORE: Pros and cons of selling to an iBuyer

Find a top-notch listing agent

Want to close quickly but also looking to maximize profit from your home sale? A top-shelf listing agent may be your best bet. They'll help accurately price your home, stage scroll-stopping photos, write a killer listing description and be your advocate when it's time to evaluate offers and negotiate.

A sellers' real estate agent could cost you a pretty penny, since real estate agent commissions can vary. You'll generally expect to pay about 6% of the total home sale price in commissions, split between the buyer's agent and your listing agent. However, an experienced agent may cost more (say an 8% commission, with the buyer's agent receiving 3% and the listing agent 5%). It's something you'll want to ask about when you're interviewing potential listing agents.

» MORE: Tips for tracking down the right agent for you