Home Selling Tips in 2025

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By Mariia Kislitsyna Updated January 10, 2025
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We partnered with top real estate professionals to get their home selling tips and expert guidance. From modern marketing approaches to smart pricing strategies — read up to achieve home selling success in 2025.

Top tip: Sell with an experienced realtor

A good listing agent is your best resource for a successful home sale. An experienced agent will know how to price your home right for your market, prep the home to appeal to local buyers, negotiate with buyer's agents to get you the best offer, complete all the closing paperwork, and more.

Even if it feels like you could do it all yourself, you'll likely benefit from a realtor's expertise. In fact, almost 9 out of 10 sellers who sold on their own say they would consider hiring an agent next time they decide to sell.[1]

Working with an agent also gets you a better sales price. Sellers who use an agent make $79,000 more on average than those who don’t.[1]

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Tips to sell in 2025

Be proactive

Many realtors we talked to share the same sentiment: it’s no longer enough in 2025 to simply put your home on the MLS and wait for a buyer to show up. Instead, homeowners who hope for a quick sale at a fair price need to take initiative in their preparations and marketing efforts.

Some agents go beyond staging and virtual tours and turn to the latest tools and techniques to find a buyer.

Here’s what Robert O'Connor, a broker from Serhant, decided to do after thoroughly preparing the home for sale: “Instead of waiting for buyers to find us, I launched a targeted digital campaign before going live that aimed at people most likely to be interested in this type of home.” The result speaks for itself, he says, as “in just five days, we had multiple offers, and the home sold above asking price for all cash.”

In the modern market, you'll likely want a realtor who is a tech-savvy marketing expert. When choosing a realtor, evaluate agents' listing presentations and reviews from past clients, which can indicate proactivity.

Know your market

Another home selling tip is to approach your home sale strategically, which requires research. Every housing market is different, and staying on top of the local and national trends can help you maximize the selling process.

One thing you can do is research your market’s seasonality. For example, the peak buying season is usually April through June. Home sales during these months bring in more buyers, have faster selling times, and have potentially higher asking prices.[2] You can also look at interest rates. Mortgage interest rates are expected to decline throughout 2025, which could boost demand from buyers.

If following real estate market news and trends feels overwhelming, consider talking to a realtor. A real estate professional can help you choose the best time to sell this year and position your home competitively in the local market.

Tips to sell fast

Choose a smart pricing strategy

The listing price can have a great impact on the speed of the sale. “Overpricing can leave your home sitting on the market, especially now that buyers have more options,” says Brett Johnson from New Era Home Buyers. However, this doesn't mean that you have to lowball just to sell your home quickly.

Some agents manage to sell a home in just a few weeks without sacrificing the homeowner’s profits. “Pricing a home slightly below market value generates immediate interest and creates competition among buyers, often leading to multiple offers with more favorable pricing and terms for sellers,” shares Mike Severns, founder of The Severns Group.

It's also important not to price the home too low, which can lead buyers to assume that something is wrong with the house. A local realtor can complete a comparative market analysis to help you strike the right balance when setting a listing price.

Be flexible with showings

If you need to sell your home fast, try to accommodate buyers' needs when it comes to showings. That way, you’ll have a higher chance of people seeing your home and, hopefully, extending an offer.

Be ready to show the home on short notice. Do your best to keep your home tidy, and create a storage place for quick cleanup.

Try to cater to buyers' unique schedules, especially if they're out of state. If you can’t do the time most convenient for a prospective buyer, offer them a few alternative showing times.

Tips to sell for more money

Prepare the property for sale

Before selling your home, take a few months to get it market-ready. A pre-sale inspection could be a good start. “I encourage my sellers to get a pre-listing home inspection so that any potential roadblocks to a successful sale can be identified and resolved,” says Jo Ann Bauer, an associate broker and realtor.

The next step is to make necessary repairs and declutter. Try to keep the things you don’t use every day in your basement (neatly in boxes instead of a pile) or outside storage.

Make your house as neutral as possible with fresh smells and a lack of personal belongings. It will help potential buyers imagine living in the property, which could result in better offers. “Today's buyers want homes that are move-in ready,” explains Brett Johnson.

Prioritize staging and professional photography

Professional photos and staging go hand-in-hand when you’re looking to sell your home for more money.

“First impressions matter,” says Robert O'Connor. “A well-staged home with professional photos and videos can capture attention immediately.” When a potential buyer sees your home online, it’s 40% more likely that they'll decide to see it in person if it's staged.[3] High-quality photos showcasing your home from the right angle also lead to more interest in showings.

Later, when buyers attend showings, staging works its magic once again. “It lets buyers envision themselves living in the space, and often evokes emotion, which can lead to stronger offers,” adds Brett Johnson. In a NAR survey, 20% of buyer's agents shared that home staging increased the price by 1–5%, and 14% said it impacted the price by 6–10%.[3]

Tips to save money

Work with a low-commission agent

The average real estate commission for listing agents is 2.74% of the home's sale price.

Technically, the realtor fee is always negotiable. But in practice, it may be difficult to get a significantly lower rate by negotiating on your own.

Some companies, like Clever Real Estate, negotiate lower rates with agents so you don't have to.

When you find a top local agent through Clever, you'll get a guaranteed low listing fee of 1.5%. That’s about half of the usual commission for the same quality and level of service.

👋 Find top local agents, save on realtor fees

Clever matches you with top local realtors from trusted brands — like Keller Williams and RE/MAX — for a discounted listing fee of just 1.5%. That's half the 3% rate realtors typically charge!

Sellers who use Clever save on average $7,000 on commission and get offers 2.8x faster than the national average. Ready to find a top agent? Enter your zip code below to get started.

Renovate smarter, not harder

Want to sell your house for more AND save money at the same time? Consider focusing on low-cost improvements that bring a high return on investment (ROI).

Things like adding a fresh coat of paint, upgrading any cheap, plastic light switches, and updating faucets can go a long way.

These small tricks can help a home feel more put together and neater. As a result, it’s easier for buyers to see the bigger picture and agree with the price, without getting distracted by many small imperfections.

Paying attention to the exterior of your house can also help immensely when you’re on a budget.

In fact, 92% of realtors recommend improving curb appeal before putting the home on the market.[4] Focus on the improvements that bring the highest returns. For example, a standard lawn care service that costs $415 has a cost recovery of 217% on average.[4]

FAQ

What is the best strategy to sell a house?

There’s no one-size-fits-all strategy to sell a house. However, hiring an experienced agent, coming up with a competitive pricing strategy, and using online tools to market the property are some steps toward a successful sale.

What are the little things that help sell a house?

Some little things that help sell a house include deep cleaning, decluttering, and minor repairs and touch-ups (think a fresh coat of paint or changing faucets). Many real estate experts also mention professional staging and photography as other relatively inexpensive actions that help sell the house quicker or for more money.

Do you need a realtor to sell your home?

While you’re not legally required to have a realtor to sell your home, it’s definitely worth considering working with one. A real estate professional can help you prepare and market your houses properly and provide insights into the process and paperwork. Moreover, sellers who use an agent make, on average, $79,000 more than those selling by themselves.

What are some tips for selling your home by owner?

Tips for selling your home by owner include decluttering, deep cleaning, and investing in professional photography. Also, learn more about the local real estate market (to price your home accurately) and get access to the MLS through a flat fee MLS company.

However, in almost all cases, it's worth it to use a realtor who can help you make more money from the sale.

Related reading

Article Sources

[1] Clever Real Estate – "New Data: Home-Selling Trends in 2024". Updated Sept. 16, 2024.
[2] National Association of Realtors – "Navigating the Housing Market: A Seasonal Perspective". Updated Apr. 29, 2024.
[3] National Association of Realtors – "2023 Profile of Home Staging".

Authors & Editorial History

Our experts continually research, evaluate, and monitor real estate companies and industry trends. We update our articles when new information becomes available.

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