Dave Ramsey's Advice For Selling Your House Quickly: 'This Isn't Rocket Science — But It's Key'

Dave Ramsey, a well-known personal finance expert and radio show host who helps people manage their money better, often talks about real estate as part of his overall financial advice. 

For instance, Dave advises that you should only buy a home when you are financially ready. He recommends having a stable income, being debt-free, and having a fully-funded emergency fund before purchasing a house. But what about selling your home? 

Don't Miss:

• If there was a new fund backed by Jeff Bezos offering a 7-9% target yield with monthly dividends would you invest in it?
• The average millionaire has 7 sources of income. Here are 3 passive income opportunities you can add today.

Sure enough, he has plenty of advice in this area, too. As he wrote on his website, most people want to sell their house fast. But what’s even more important than that is that you "get the most value from your home sale as possible." The longer your house stays on the market, the more likely you’ll get lower offers or need to drop the price to attract buyers.

To accomplish that, Ramsey proposes "a few tried-and-true tricks" that will help you sell your house or apartment quickly.

Get A Top Listing Agent

A great real estate agent knows the market inside out and will help you price your home right, attract buyers, and negotiate the best deal. Their experience and connections can save you time and stress. Unlike you, they’ve been through this process countless times and know what works best to extract the best price. 

Fix Problems Now

Taking care of issues like plumbing, roof damage, electrical problems, and HVAC glitches before listing your home can prevent surprises during the closing process. Buyers are more likely to make an offer and pay a good price if they know the house is in good condition.

Ramsey says, "Don’t do anything major, but simple updates can make a world of difference." Put on a fresh coat of paint, clean carpets, polish floors, and add new kitchen hardware. 

Stage The Home

Staging your home means arranging furniture and décor to make it look its best. A well-staged home helps buyers imagine themselves living there and can make the house more appealing, leading to faster offers.

Trending: This Jeff Bezos-backed startup will allow you to become a landlord in just 10 minutes, and you only need $100.

He points out, "Buyers want to walk in and see an open space that inspires conversation and feels livable. A place that invites them to sit and stay awhile."

Price To Sell

Setting the right price is crucial. If you price your home too high, it may sit on the market too long and become less attractive to buyers. If you price it too low, you might leave money on the table.

A top agent can help you find the sweet spot. They "know how to toe the line between making you a good profit on the sale and pricing low enough to drum up buyer interest. They understand the local market and how to plan out pricing."

If you think the market will be slow, make your home more attractive by offering to pay part of the buyer’s closing costs or including some appliances in the sale.

Declutter And Clean

Lastly, a clean, clutter-free home looks more spacious and inviting. When buyers see a tidy house, they get the impression that it has been well cared for, which means you’ll get higher offers and, ultimately, a quicker sale.

As Dawn Kirkland, a real estate agent in Birmingham, Alabama, whom Dave Ramsey interviewed for his website, points out, "Decluttering isn't rocket science—but it is the key to creating a pleasing environment." 

Impress buyers by showcasing how much storage space the home offers, not by displaying your belongings.

Keep Reading:

• Miami is expected to take New York's place as the U.S. Financial Capital. Here's how you can invest in the city before that happens.
• No generation before Gen Z has had this investment opportunity – How successful Zoomers plan to retire in their 30's.