If you’re planning to sell your home, you probably have one big goal: sell quickly and for top dollar. After helping hundreds of clients sell their homes, our real estate team recently sold our own home—and we sold it in just 36 hours. The process was eye-opening and taught us valuable lessons about what truly works.

Here are the eight strategies we used to sell our home fast (and how you can apply them to your sale).

1. Preparation Is Everything

Preparing a home for sale is harder than most people think—but it’s also the most crucial step. We spent two full weeks decluttering, deep cleaning, fixing small issues, and improving curb appeal. Seasonal items went into storage, closets were thinned out, and our yard got a facelift.

Buyers notice when a home is truly move-in ready. Take the time to stage your property properly, or ask your real estate agent for professional staging advice.

2. Price Strategically

Every seller wants top dollar, but pricing your home too high will only cost you time and money. We looked at comparable properties in the area through a buyer’s eyes to ensure our listing was competitive.

Ultimately, we priced our home slightly higher than we thought we’d sell for—but with a clear “soft spot” price we were willing to accept. This approach generated a full-price offer in just 12 hours.

Tip: Overpricing leads to longer days on the market, which can create a perception that something is wrong with the home.

3. Fix What’s Broken and Deep Clean

Before you list your home, make sure everything works. Fix leaky faucets, touch up paint, repair loose door handles, and replace burnt-out light bulbs. These small details add up to make a home feel well-maintained.

We also invested in a professional deep clean. While you might be a great cleaner, a professional cleaning service will get your home showroom-ready—and buyers will notice.

4. Create Urgency

Timing matters when listing your home. We posted our home on a Thursday morning to catch weekend buyers making plans. Then we hosted an open house on Saturday to generate buzz.

Open houses can create a competitive atmosphere, especially if buyers see other people touring the property. We also encouraged interested buyers to write an offer on the spot during the open house.

5. Showings Are Hard—But Necessary

Showing your home is one of the most stressful parts of selling, especially if you have kids or pets. We had a full routine to get the house show-ready every time: moving the dogs, turning on lights, opening shades, and setting relaxing background music.

This experience reminded us why selling quickly is so important. The longer your home is on the market, the harder it is to keep it looking perfect.

6. Don’t Overthink the First Offer

Your first offer is usually your best offer. Statistically, the first buyer to submit an offer is the most motivated and prepared to move quickly.

When we received a full-price offer in just 12 hours, we were tempted to hold out for more. But ultimately, we accepted—and it was the right call. Waiting could have cost us the deal entirely.

7. Don’t Lose a Good Offer

Greed can kill a sale. Sellers often hesitate to accept offers because they think a better one might come along. But holding out for a few thousand dollars more can backfire, especially if your home ends up sitting on the market for months.

If you receive a strong offer that meets your needs, sign it.

8. Provide Information Before Buyers Ask

We went above and beyond to upload detailed documents with our listing: utility costs, upgrade lists, warranties, and even community updates. Buyers felt more confident knowing exactly what they were getting.

We’ve even started using “story cards” in our listings. These cards highlight features like gardens, pet areas, or fire pits so buyers can envision the lifestyle the home offers.

The Takeaway

Selling your home fast isn’t about luck—it’s about preparation, strategy, and execution. By following these eight steps, we sold our home in just 36 hours and learned how to provide even more value to our clients.

If you’re thinking about selling your home in North Idaho or Eastern Washington, our team can help you price it right, market it effectively, and sell it quickly. Contact us today to get started.