Selling a house is something that anyone can do.  You can find all of the information you need by a quick search on the internet.  Whether you use a Realtor or do it yourself, it will go much more smoothly if you do a little preparation first.  Here is a guide to selling your investment property.

1. Before you sell: Buy right: If you want to be able to offload your property quickly, buy one that will sell. Make sure that your numbers work. If you calculate the cost of buying and cost of selling and there is not a profit to be found, do not buy. If it is the wrong property to sell right now, it is likely not to sell for a long time. You must also consider things that will affect the price of the property over the near and long term.  Some things to consider are the tax rate, the local school system, local economy, access to services, etc.

2. Advertising and finding buyers: Once you buy, you need to think how you will market the house. It is best if you have a huge buyer’s list already, but there are many other ways to market the property. These include advertising on the internet (powerful tool), bandit signs, direct mails, and open houses.  Write down all the details and description about the home, and put out as many pictures as you can.  This makes buyers’ decision much easier.  Show the house in its very best condition.  Make the first impression the best impression. Get rid of dirt and garbage, de-clutter and remove any excess furniture. Paint and repair as necessary. 

3. Prescreen buyers: Unfortunately, not all buyers are equally interested in your property.  Some are not ready to buy yet. You want to prescreen prospects as quickly as possible so that you can focus on a few serious and qualified people and do not waste your time on the others. 

4. Negotiating: Once you have an offer you need to decide what is the maximum price that you can achieve.  Think about the offer, how close it is to the price you want and how quickly they can move.

5.  Follow up: Sometimes property buying can take some time so you need to follow up right up until closing day. Build up a good rapport with your buyers as it helps things go quickly and smoothly.  Buying a home is a big decision and a potential buyer can easily get cold feet.  Maintaining contact can help keep their confidence level high and make sure they follow through with the purchase.

6. Closing: It is important to ensure that all the tax and legal requirements are adhered to.  This is best handled by your lawyer. There are a considerable number of legal documents that need to be understood and completed and this is not a task for the untrained. 

I hope that this guide will help you sell your property quickly.  Real estate investing is team work. Always ask for professional advice when you need it. Good luck!