As we creep closer to the end of the year, those of you trying to sell before singing Auld Lang Syne may be feeling a little pressure. While your worries aren’t exactly unfounded, don’t panic -- you still have time for out with the old and in with the new. Let’s take a look at what you can do to sell your home before the new year.

Timing is everything

Okay, so this article is about selling your home before the end of the year, but it’s also important to point out that different markets have peak listing and selling times. If you aren’t in a race against time, you’ll have the luxury of discovering when the best time to sell your home is in your market. Here you’ll rely on historical trends to determine the perfect time to list your home for an expedient sale, but don’t get discouraged if fall isn’t prime time in your area. You can still take matters into your own hands.

Follow your agent’s lead

You don’t have time to waste right now, so if your agent tells you to replace the garage door, do it. In fact, take a walk-through with your agent with a pen and notebook in-hand to write down all of their suggestions. Paint touch-ups, mulched flower beds, minimalist decor -- whatever your agent says needs to be followed with precision.

Your agent knows what buyers in your market are looking for, and you want your home as close to a model condition as possible. Things that go unnoticed to you each day mean be glaring to prospective buyers. If you’ve not cleaned the grout in your bathroom recently, now is the time to do so, as well as fixing any nicks and dings in and around the house. Your agent can point these things out -- and more -- if you give them the opportunity. Now is not the time to be sensitive.

Get the price right

Again, you don’t have time to waste if you’re going to sell your home before the year’s end. While you may have a figure in your head, you need to be open to the figure your agent gives you when setting your price. If you price too high, your home is likely to sit on the market, making it more difficult to sell in the long run.

Agents have access to more data sets than you and are experts at using comps to determine pricing. The pricing won’t be random, no matter how far off your ideal number it may be. While it could happen, but it’s highly unlikely, sticking to your higher price when all of your agent’s numbers are pointing lower may mean the difference between a house that sells and a house that sits.

Don’t forget about curb appeal

Still looking to sell your home before the end of the year? Fall renovations that will speed up your home sale are actually a lot easier than you would suspect, as they typically revolve around basic yard work.

Autumn and fall are the most intensive times of the year for yard maintenance in areas that experience cold winter seasons, with debris and dead plants scattered everywhere. Once the leaves begin to fall, you’re in a non-stop race until the trees are bare. Make sure your yard is looking pristine for prospective homebuyers by clearing dead flowers from the beds, getting gutters cleaned and primed for winter, and most importantly, keeping your lawn as leaf-free as possible.

Fall maintenance is incredibly important for those of you who are planning on selling your home in the future, as it can help extend the life of your hoses, gutters, and other exterior features, not to mention avoiding potential plumbing disasters. You should be taking the time to winterize your home each fall, adding weatherstrips where needed and getting overgrown tree limbs trimmed. 

Preparing your home for sale will take a bit of work if you want to close before the new year, but it’s definitely possible. Check out your local market for timing, and make sure you hire an agent you trust. If you’re going to get this home sale done quickly, you need an agent who can tell you what you can do to prep your home before listing, in addition to pricing your house right on the first go.