How to Sell a Home Fast in Columbus, Ohio

If you need to sell your home fast in Columbus, my advice is simple: get the price right, get the house ready, and make a strong first impression. In more than 25 years of selling homes throughout Central Ohio, I’ve seen sellers lose valuable time because they listed too high or put their home on the market before it was truly ready for buyers.

Pricing is one of the biggest factors. I understand that every seller wants to get top dollar, but overpricing a home for its neighborhood, condition or current market can work against you. Buyers know the market, and if they believe a home is overpriced, many won't even come see it. I would rather position a home correctly from the start and create strong buyer interest than have it sit on the market and require price reductions later.

Before listing, I also tell sellers to look at their house through a buyer's eyes. Clear the clutter, clean it thoroughly and address the obvious problems. If it needs paint or worn carpet is hurting its appearance, take care of it. I also believe strongly in staging. You don't necessarily need to spend a fortune remodeling—you want the home to look cared for, inviting and easy for a buyer to picture as their own.

Don't underestimate your listing photos, either. I use professional photography and, when appropriate, aerial drone photography because a buyer's first showing today usually happens online. If the home doesn't show well in the photos, that buyer may never walk through the front door. Once the property is ready, you want to create as much exposure as possible through online marketing, Coming Soon promotion, Realtor networks, email, social media and other appropriate channels.

Finally, selling fast doesn't necessarily mean selling cheap. I once helped a family sell a Worthington home that needed a tremendous amount of work just to get it ready for market. I coordinated cleaners, junk removal, painters, auctioneers, movers and a dumpster so the family didn't have to manage everything themselves. Once we got the property ready, the home sold in under 20 days. That's why I believe the fastest route to a successful sale often isn't rushing a home onto the market—it's doing the right work before you put it there.