If you watch those real estate reality TV shows, you probably have a picture of your home selling process. You’ll slap on a fresh coat of paint, hire a selling agent, and a week later you’ll have an offer on the table.

We hate to be a wet blanket, but that’s rarely the case. Your house could sit on the market for months or years if you don’t take the right steps.

If you’re not sure how to get your house ready to sell, start with these tips.

How to Get Your House Ready to Sell

Before you can embark on new adventures, you need to get that “sold” sign. There are several simple steps you can take to get a better price and a faster sale.

1. Declutter, Then Declutter More

An uncluttered home looks newer, larger, and cleaner. It appeals to almost any buyer and it costs you little or nothing.

Go through your house and declutter as much as possible. You don’t have to get rid of anything. Many homeowners rent a storage space on a month by month basis where they store their items until they move into a new home.

For the items that remain, make sure they’re organized and clean.

2. Make a List of Projects

If you’re getting ready to sell your home, some home improvement projects will boost your sale value and speed up the sale too. Others will be a waste of time and money.

How do you know the difference?

Do a walk-through with your real estate agent and make a list. The agent will be able to tell you which projects are and aren’t worth your time.

Your agent isn’t just an expert on selling homes. They’re an expert in your home’s real estate market. They have the expertise to tell you whether or not you need that updated laundry room to be competitive in your local market.

3. Invest in a Deep Clean

No matter how great of a homemaker you are, everyone misses things. There could be dirt or smells that you don’t notice because you live with them every day.

It’s worth your investment to hire a crew for a deep cleaning. They’ll get under and behind your furniture, under your sinks, and anywhere else that needs attention.

After this, all you need to do is keep the home clean while it’s on the market. You may need to re-do the process if you home is on the market for more than a few months, though.

4. Consider All Your Options

If you’re exhausted just reading that list above, you may have other options.

Instead of going through the traditional route, consider selling your home to a local “we buy houses” company.

These companies are investors who buy houses “as is.” It makes the process faster, and they don’t care whether or not you have a fresh coat of paint in the kitchen.

Getting to the Finish Line

Selling your home means the start of a new chapter in your life. Chances are that you want to close the last chapter right away so you can move on.

The tips above for how to get your house ready to sell will help you get that “sold” sign sooner so you can turn the page.

For more tips from people who have been in your shoes, check out this advice for homeowners.