Key Takeaways
- Financial Impact: Traditional sellers in Long Island typically pay 6% to 10% of the sale price in commissions and closing costs.
- Market Specifics: Fixing issues like old aluminum wiring or poor basement drainage is critical for Nassau and Suffolk County homes.
- Neutrality Wins: Home staging and neutral paint are inexpensive ways to maximize buyer visualization.
- Pricing Games: Listing below market value can spur a bidding war but risks appraisal failure.
- The Cash Shortcut: Selling to a cash buyer eliminates prep work, agent fees, and seller closing costs.
In a competitive market, selling fast requires a plan. When you look around your Long Island home, you might feel overwhelmed by the amount of work ahead and keep asking yourself, what can I do to make my house sell faster? This is the most pressing question for anyone who wants to relocate, upgrade, or downsize without months of uncertainty. The reality is that speed usually comes at a cost, either in money spent on preparations or in the strategy you choose.
In June 2025, all cash purchases accounted for 29% of all home purchases nationally, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), roughly one in three homes. This trend is amplified across the high-demand Nassau County and Suffolk County markets, proving that many sellers prioritize speed and convenience over the long mortgage process, appraisals, and traditional agent commissions.
Tip 1: Declutter and Deep Clean
First impressions are everything when selling a home, and a cluttered space can immediately turn off potential buyers who are unable to see past your belongings. If you are wondering what can I do to make my house sell faster, the process always begins with clearing out the excess items to maximize the perceived square footage and open up the floor plan.
Creating a Blank Canvas
When you first start researching how to get my house ready to sell fast, every expert will tell you to declutter. This is not just about tidiness; it is about psychology. Buyers lack imagination. When they walk into a home filled with family photos, refrigerator art, and overflowing bookshelves, they see your home, not theirs. To make a sale happen quickly, you must erase your footprint from the property. This allows potential buyers to mentally move in their own furniture and lives.
The Cost of Cleanliness
You need to remove personal items and rent a storage unit. This takes 1 week. You cannot simply shove everything into the closets because buyers look there too. A crowded closet signals a lack of storage space, which is a major red flag. Once the clutter is gone, the deep cleaning begins. You must scrub grout lines, wash windows inside and out, and possibly have carpets professionally shampooed to remove odors. This labor-intensive process is critical for the traditional market to achieve curb appeal.
Tip 2: Paint Everything a Neutral Color
A fresh look is crucial for attracting offers, and paint is the most effective tool to transform a lived-in home into a market-ready product. Many sellers ask how to get my house ready to sell fast, and the answer is often found in removing personalized colors that distract buyers, reducing the risk of negotiation.
Removing Personal Style
That accent wall you love might be a turn-off. This takes 1 week and costs approximately $2,000 for professional labor. Buyers walk in and immediately calculate how much time and money it will take to cover bold colors. To appeal to the widest audience, you must neutralize the space.
The “Greige” Standard
Agents often suggest painting the entire interior a soft grey or beige (known as greige). This brightens the rooms and makes them feel larger, particularly important in older Long Island homes. A poor paint job can hurt you more than help you; hiring professionals ensures a crisp, clean, and high-quality look, a non-negotiable step for attracting serious buyers.
Tip 3: Fix All Inspection Items Before You List
Maintenance issues are red flags that scare away buyers, so addressing them early is vital for a smooth transaction. You might ask what can I do to make my house sell faster, and fixing these small defects is a proven way to secure a quicker sale by removing all potential buyer hesitation.
The Hidden Deal Killers
Nothing slows down a sale like a bad inspection report. Smart sellers get ahead of this by fixing small issues before a buyer ever walks through the door. Common Long Island failures include outdated GFCI outlets in kitchens and bathrooms, failing aluminum wiring in older homes, or subpar drainage around the foundation. Once a buyer finds defects, they lose confidence, leading to delays and demanding renegotiations.
Tip 4: Price It Below Market Value
Pricing is not just about value; it is a marketing strategy designed to increase the visibility of your listing. When homeowners ask how to get my house ready to sell fast, agents often suggest an aggressive pricing strategy to stimulate immediate interest and activity.
The Bidding War Strategy
The number one agent trick to starting a bidding war is to list it low. By pricing the home slightly under its true market value (e.g., listing a $760,000 home at $749,000 in Nassau County), you attract more attention. The goal is to generate multiple offers in the first weekend.
The Risk Factor
While this strategy can generate multiple offers, it is risky. The high bid still has to pass the bank appraisal. If the appraisal comes in lower than the bid, the buyer may not be able to cover the appraisal gap, causing the deal to fall apart. This strategy requires a tolerance for risk and an understanding of local trends.
Tip 5 (The ‘Secret’ Fast Way): Skip All of This
The previous methods involve significant work, but there is a streamlined alternative that removes the labor from the equation. For those asking what can I do to make my house sell faster without the stress, selling to a professional real estate investor is the ultimate shortcut.
The Traditional Path vs. The Fast Path
If the list above sounds exhausting, you are not alone. Spending 3 weeks and $5,000+ preparing to sell, plus paying 5%–6% in agent commissions, is the “Traditional Way.” The better option is selling ‘As Is’ to a cash buyer.
| Traditional Listing | WeBuyPropertyNY (Cash Sale) |
|---|---|
| Prep Time: 3+ Weeks (Clean, Paint, Repair) | Prep Time: 0 Days (Sell As-Is) |
| Cost: $5,000+ in repairs & staging | Cost: $0 (No repairs needed) |
| Fees: 5-6% Agent Commissions | Fees: ZERO Commissions |
| Closing: 60-90 Days | Closing: 7-14 Days |
WeBuyPropertyNY buys houses in any condition
WeBuyPropertyNY is a locally focused investor that specializes in purchasing homes exactly as they stand right now across Long Island. We take on all property conditions, from minor updates to major structural issues. Our transparent, cash offer process is designed for certainty and speed:
- Zero Commission: You pay absolutely no agent commission.
- No Seller Closing Costs: We cover all standard title fees, attorney fees, and state transfer taxes.
- Fast Close: We can close with a title company in as little as 7 days, or on your timeline.
Conclusion
You can spend time and money to get ready to sell, or you can get a cash offer today and be closed in 14 days. The traditional route demands that you become a project manager, a cleaner, and a decorator. You must invest thousands of dollars into a home you are leaving, plus potentially tens of thousands in commissions and closing costs.
If you want to skip the stress and stop asking how to get my house ready to sell fast, WeBuyPropertyNY offers the solution. As a trusted Long Island cash buyer, we provide transparent, non-contingent offers that eliminate the need for agent commissions and seller closing costs. Contact us today to see how easy selling your Long Island home can be when you choose the 7-day way.
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