How to sell your home faster

A home that sits on the market for months rarely has a market problem — it has a price, presentation or availability problem. The good news is that all three can be fixed.

The right price does half the work

The first two weeks after publishing bring the most interest. If the price is too high, you miss exactly the wave of buyers who were waiting for an offer like yours, and after that the listing starts to look stale to everyone.

Set the price from comparable offers and transactions: same neighbourhood, same size, same condition. Ignore what you paid a few years ago and what the place "should" be worth — the market takes neither into account.

For a fast, free starting point, use the CityBrava valuation: it gives you an estimate in seconds, based on data from your area.

Prepare the home before the first photo

You do not need expensive renovations. You need space, light and neutrality:

• Depersonalise. Put away family photos, fridge magnets, clothes on chairs.
• Remove excess furniture. A room with fewer objects looks bigger.
• Fix the small defects. A dripping tap or a broken socket suggests the rest is neglected too.
• Clean the windows. Natural light is the cheapest upgrade there is.
• Air the rooms. Smell matters more than you think for a first impression.

If the budget allows, a coat of white or light beige paint almost always pays for itself in the final price.

The photos are your listing

Most buyers decide from the photos whether a viewing is worth their time. A few simple rules:

1. Shoot during the day, with curtains open and all lights on.
2. Hold the phone straight, at chest height — not from above, not tilted.
3. Photograph every room, plus the bathroom, kitchen, balcony, parking space and the building from outside.
4. Make the first photo the best one — usually the living room or kitchen.
5. Avoid filters that change wall colours; buyers feel misled at the viewing.

On CityBrava you can automatically improve the brightness and sharpness of your photos so they look professional without hiring a photographer.

Write a description someone will read

A good description answers the questions you would otherwise get on the phone: usable floor area, layout, year built, floor, orientation, what the price includes, maintenance costs, and how far it is to schools, transport and shops.

Be honest about the downsides. "The bathroom needs updating" filters out exactly the buyers who would have walked away at the viewing anyway, and saves you the time.

Be easy to reach

Many sales are lost because the seller replies the next day. Answer messages the same day, propose two or three concrete viewing slots, and be flexible about evenings and weekends — that is when most people are free.

Get the documents ready in advance: title deed, land-registry extract, energy certificate, proof that maintenance is paid. A buyer who sees everything in order decides faster and negotiates less.

What to do when nothing happens

If you get few viewings in the first three or four weeks, the problem is most likely the price or the photos. If you get many viewings but no offers, the problem is the condition of the home or the expectations your listing created.

Adjust in clear steps, not by tiny amounts. A visible correction brings the listing back to the attention of everyone who saved it and waited.

In short

Realistic price, a clean and well-photographed home, an honest description, quick replies, documents ready. Nothing spectacular — but together they are the difference between three months and three weeks.

Tax rules, notary fees and document requirements can change. Check the current details with your notary and official sources before the transaction.

When you are ready, publish your listing for free or first see what is selling in your area.