How Long Does It Take To Sell a House? Real Estate Timelines Explained

One of the most common questions homeowners ask when they’ve decided to sell their house or condo is, "How long will it take to sell my home?"

The answer varies based on several factors, including market conditions, location, property condition, and the selling strategy used. Below, we break down the typical real estate timeline and explore the factors that influence how quickly a home sells, with insights from an Engel & Völkers advisor.

Typical Home Selling Timeline

As of June 2024, in the U.S. it took an average of 58.2 days to sell a home from listing to closing.* Some properties can sell in as few as 14-30 days, others may take as long as 90 days. This latter range doesn’t include the time required for preparation before listing or closing 

Here’s a detailed look at each stage.

Preparing Your Home for Sale (2 weeks-several months)

Before listing a property, homeowners often need time to make necessary repairs, thoroughly and deeply clean the property, and stage the home. Here are steps this phase may include:

• Repairs and renovations: Addressing minor or major repairs, repainting, or updating fixtures can take a few days to several weeks, depending on the work needed.

• Decluttering and staging: Organizing and staging the home to make it more appealing to buyers can take a week or more.

• Professional photography: High-quality listing photos are crucial and usually take a few days to schedule and process.

• Pre-listing inspection (optional): Some sellers opt for a pre-listing home inspection to identify potential issues beforehand.

“We want to see a well-manicured property, especially the front entrance and lawn,” says Engel & Völkers advisor Kim Marion, Barrington East Bay, Rhode Island. “We want curb appeal. If there are no plantings [shrubs, flower beds], it would be really nice to put a few in. I need to make sure all the rooms are painted and there are no dark spots on walls or ceilings. If the carpets are terrible, they should be removed or at the very least cleaned.”

Staging is extremely important, she says. “And that involves everything from the smell in the air to the feeling of the rooms. If you have a $500,000 house to sell, you’ve moved into your new place, and your old house is vacant, you can invest $300 to $5,000 in staging.

“When buyers come to a house on the market, they’re looking for their home, not for four walls. It's an emotional purchase,” Kim adds. “They want to walk into the home and feel something. And when you walk into a home and it's either shabby or smells like a plug-in linen air freshener, I have a huge issue with those things. It shouldn't smell like you cooked something fabulous the night before. There are things that people connect with. Smell is one of them.”

Listing the Property and Marketing (2-10 days)

Once the home is ready, it needs to be listed and marketed effectively. This includes:

• Working with a real estate professional: Finding and partnering with a professional agent takes a few days.

• Creating and posting listings: Writing the listing description, uploading photos, and posting on multiple platforms can take a few days.

• Hosting open houses and showings: Depending on market conditions, showings and 

Receiving and Negotiating Offers (2 days to a month or more)

The time it takes to receive an offer varies significantly based on market conditions:

• Hot seller’s market: Homes can receive multiple offers within a few days.

• Balanced market: Offers typically are received within a few weeks.

• Buyer’s market: It may take longer to receive an acceptable offer, sometimes a month or more.

• Negotiations: Once an offer is received, negotiations for price, contingencies (i.e., legal bases — inspection, appraisal, financing — that allow buyers to withdraw from a prospective deal) and closing terms can take several days.

Under Contract and Closing (30-90 days)

After an offer is accepted, the home enters the closing process, which involves several key steps:

• Home inspection (7-14 days): Buyers typically schedule a home inspection, which may lead to further negotiations if repairs are needed.
  
  

• Appraisal (7-14 days): If the buyer is financing the purchase, the lender will require an appraisal.
  
  

• Mortgage approval (30-45 days): Buyers who require financing will need to go through the underwriting process for their mortgage.
  
  

• Title search and closing preparation (2-4 weeks): A title company verifies legal ownership, and final closing documents are prepared.
  
  

• Final walkthrough and closing (1-3 days): Before closing, buyers do a final walk-through, and the transaction is finalized with document signings and fund transfers.

 

Factors That Influence the Home-Selling Timeline

Several factors can either speed up or delay the process:

Market conditions

• Seller’s market: Homes sell faster due to high demand and limited inventory.

• Buyer’s market: More competition and longer listing times due to increased housing supply.

Property location and condition

• Desirable neighborhoods sell faster.

• Well-maintained homes attract more buyers quickly.

• Unique properties or those requiring extensive repairs may take longer to sell.

Pricing strategy

• Competitive pricing leads to faster offers.

• Overpriced homes may remain on the market longer and require price reductions.

Kim’s approach to pricing is a two-step process. “I meet with a client and take a property tour. Then I research the area for similar properties and come up with what I think is a reasonable list price,” she explains. “We want a list price that’s in line with market value, not way below, not much higher, because we want to encourage interest in our market, where we don’t have many available homes.

“Pricing strategy for me is right at market value. Right now, we're in a good place for sellers, but I don't want to price a house too high because we want to encourage multiple offers,” she adds. “That’s going to help my seller get the most money. And it's also going to encourage people to say, ‘This house looks great. Maybe I don't need a home inspection.’ For my buyers, I don't encourage that. I want my buyers to have a home inspection. But for my sellers, if they can get multiple offers and as few contingencies against those offers as possible, they're in a really good place.” 


Seasonality

• Spring and summer are peak seasons for real estate, leading to quicker sales.

• Fall and winter generally see slower sales.
  

Financing vs. cash buyers

• Cash offers: Can close within 7-14 days.

• Financed offers: Usually take 30-60 days due to loan processing requirements.
  
  

Tips To Sell Your Home Faster

• Price it right: Work with a real estate agent to set a competitive listing price.

• Boost curb appeal: A well-maintained exterior makes a great first impression.

• Invest in professional photos: High-quality images attract more buyers.

• Be flexible with showings: Accommodating potential buyers' schedules can lead to faster sales.

• Market aggressively: Utilize online listings, social media, and real estate networks.

Though the time it takes to sell a house depends on various factors, understanding the general timeline can help you plan accordingly. With proper preparation, effective marketing, and realistic expectations, you can streamline the process and achieve a successful sale.

If you're considering selling your home, consulting with a local real estate professional, like me! I can provide personalized insights to help you navigate the market efficiently.

*U.S. News & World Report magazine