Real estate is a tricky business, and selling your home can be a difficult, drawn-out process if you're not taking deliberate steps to make it more attractive to buyers. If you are currently looking to sell your home and want to make sure it is off the market as soon as possible, take a look below at just five helpful tips to keep in mind.

Make a Good First Impression

First impressions count for a lot when it comes to getting potential buyers in the door, which is why focusing on curb appeal is a worthwhile endeavor. An investment in some new front lawn landscaping or a fresh coat of paint on the porch can pay huge dividends when it comes time to sell your home. 

Remove Personal Touches

While it may seem counterintuitive, removing the things that make your home yours can be a huge advantage when trying to sell it quickly. That's because all prospective buyers will be imagining themselves in the home, which is difficult to do with pictures of your family on the wall or souvenir collections left on bookcase shelves. 

Consider Renovating

While it usually requires a good deal of cash up front, there is no easier way to add value to your home — and subtract days from its time on the market — than completing some thoughtful renovations. Many people choose to update the appliances and features in their kitchens and bathrooms, for example. In so doing, they can often realize huge returns when the home sells.

Don't Set the Price Too High

If you've worked hard to do all of the above, then it may be tempting to price the home as high as possible. But doing so can have major consequences once your home is up for sale — unless you list it in an extreme seller's market, you may be forced to slash the price, causing buyers to believe that the home is less desirable than other, similar properties. 

Take Excellent Photos

Photographs taken in bad lighting or at weird angles can make even the best property look underwhelming. More than anything else, buyers are likely to request an in-person showing based on the photos of the property they've seen, so it is important to prioritize how your home is shot. You may even want to invest in a 3D video tour to be shown on popular online real estate marketplaces.