How to Sell a House from Out of State: 10 Expert Tips
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Cheyenne Wiseman Associate EditorClose
Cheyenne Wiseman Associate EditorCheyenne Wiseman is an Associate Editor at HomeLight.com. Previously, she worked as a writer for Static Media (Mashed.com and Chowhound.com) and as an editor for CBR.com. Cheyenne holds a bachelor’s degree in English from UC Davis, where she also founded and led a literary magazine called Open Ceilings. She has four years of experience writing and editing on topics including real estate, financial advising, and pharmaceuticals.
Selling a home when you live nearby is simple — you can swing by to meet a contractor or check on repairs whenever needed. But figuring out how to sell a house from out of state is a different challenge. When you can’t be there in person, even small tasks like cleaning, lawn care, or letting in an inspector can feel overwhelming.
The good news is, distance doesn’t have to make selling difficult. With today’s digital tools and the right local support, you can manage your sale confidently from anywhere. A trusted real estate agent can handle the on-the-ground details, while options like cash buyers or iBuyer programs offer faster, lower-effort alternatives.
To help you decide what works best, we spoke with top agents who shared 10 expert tips for selling your home successfully from afar.
Selling Long Distance Is Easier with a Top Agent
Partner with a top-rated local agent to take the worry out of your long-distance sale. HomeLight’s free Agent Match tool analyzes over 27 million transactions and thousands of reviews. Our data shows that the top 5% of agents sell homes for as much as 10% more than average agents.
1. Hire a local listing agent with out-of-state expertise
When you’re selling a home remotely, having a skilled real estate agent makes all the difference. Geoffrey Adams, a leading Phoenix agent who specializes in relocation sales, says a good agent serves as “the eyes and the boots on the ground for anything that might come up through the marketing and selling process.”
Jennifer Hupke, a top Milwaukee agent with 22 years of experience, says out-of-state sellers should look for someone who can fully manage things locally. “Most agents don’t offer the service that we do, like scheduling everything for them — routine maintenance like snow removal, lawn cutting, and repairs.” She adds that sellers should find an agent “willing to do the heavy lifting.”
A local agent can help with the following:
- Rekey the property and install a secure lockbox
- Document the home’s condition with photos and videos
- Check on the property to catch issues early (like a burst water heater)
- Offer expert pricing advice, whether you plan to sell your home “as is” or make repairs and upgrades first
HomeLight’s free Agent Match tool can connect you with top local agents who have experience managing out-of-state sales from start to finish.
2. Use a full-service concierge or iBuyer program
Managing repairs and updates from another state can be challenging. A full-service concierge program takes care of that work for you. These programs coordinate and pay for improvements — like painting, landscaping, or staging — so your home looks its best. You typically reimburse these costs at closing, which lets you boost your home’s value without paying upfront or juggling vendors from afar.
An iBuyer program offers another hands-off option. iBuyers use automated valuation technology to make near-instant offers, usually paying about 85% to 95% of your home’s market value. The process is mostly online and designed for homes in good condition, providing a quick, predictable sale without showings or open houses.
Compared with traditional cash buyers, iBuyers tend to pay closer to market value, while cash buyers usually offer less but are more flexible with timing and property condition.
3. Use digital tools for virtual showings and communication
Part of knowing how to sell a house from out of state is using the right digital tools. Your agent can host virtual open houses or livestream tours to showcase the property in real time and arrange 3D walkthroughs so buyers can explore every room from their phone or computer.
These tools matter more than ever — the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reports that 51% of buyers found the home they purchased online. Hupke says this technology has transformed how sellers stay involved. “We’ll definitely do walkthrough Zoom calls with the sellers, especially if they’re tenant-occupied, and they haven’t seen the property in a long time.”
She emphasizes the importance of setting communication preferences early. “We have a conversation with the sellers upfront as to what their expectations are and how they want to be kept in the loop. Do they want to be texted? Do they want to be called? Do they want emails?”
With today’s technology and strong agent support, you can stay informed, attract more buyers, and keep your sale moving forward from any distance.
4. Line up trusted local vendors for repairs and prep
When you’re selling from another state, it helps to have local vendors you can trust. A handyperson can take care of small repairs, while a landscaper keeps curb appeal in check. You might also need cleaning services, a pool cleaner, or an inspector to maintain the property between showings. In some cases, an attorney or accountant can help with paperwork or tax questions.
Coordinating all of this from a distance can be challenging — and that’s where an agent steps in. “We’ll be their single point of contact,” says Hupke. “They don’t have to deal with the painters, they don’t have to deal with the cleaners, and they don’t have to deal with the stagers — we’ll do all that.”
A well-connected agent has reliable local contacts and can handle scheduling, payments, and progress updates. That way, you can have peace of mind knowing your home is cared for and shown in its best light, even if you’re miles away.
5. Offer the home furnished or with incentives
In an out-of-state sale, clearing out the home can be one of the biggest challenges. Many remote sellers choose to leave furniture behind rather than deal with the cost and hassle of moving it. Selling the home furnished can also make it feel more inviting to buyers, especially if it’s staged well or fits the style of the space.
Another option is to offer buyer incentives, such as credits toward closing costs or help with minor repairs. These small concessions can make your listing stand out and motivate hesitant buyers to act.
Whether you sell the home furnished or offer incentives, a flexible approach can help you attract buyers and close the sale faster.
6. Price strategically with local market data
Pricing a home remotely can be tricky, since it’s easy to misjudge what buyers in another market will pay. That’s why local data matters. A top agent can analyze neighborhood trends, recent sales, and buyer activity to set a realistic price that draws attention without leaving money on the table.
Adams says he gives out-of-state sellers two pricing ranges — one for selling “as is” and another that reflects upgrades to make the home more competitive with the local market. He also estimates the cost of those improvements so sellers can make an informed decision.
By relying on an agent’s local knowledge rather than distant assumptions, you can price your home strategically and stand out to serious buyers from day one.
Want a quick estimate of your home’s worth? HomeLight’s Home Value Estimator can provide you with an approximate value for your property in less than two minutes.
Sellers who live out of state are often less familiar with price trends where the property is located. As a starting point, get a near-instant real estate house price estimate from HomeLight for free. We’ll consider the records of recently sold homes in the area, your home’s last sale price, and other market trends to provide a preliminary range of value in under two minutes.
What's Your Out-of-State Home Worth?
7. Stage your home for buyers — even from afar
Presentation matters when you’re not there in person. Professional staging and photography help your home make a strong first impression online and stand out to buyers. Staging highlights your home’s best features and makes it feel warm and inviting.
Your agent can arrange local stagers or use virtual staging, where designers digitally add furniture and decor to photos. Paired with professional photography and 3D tours, this can make your listing stand out to online shoppers. According to the NAR, 86% of Older Millennials (ages 35 to 44) say photos are the most useful feature when searching for a home online.
A well-staged, well-photographed home captures attention faster — helping you attract serious buyers, even from a distance.
8. Use a Power of Attorney (POA) if needed
If you can’t be present for your home sale, granting power of attorney (POA) allows someone you trust to sign documents and make decisions for you. This legal tool can be especially helpful for out-of-state sellers, those managing an estate, or anyone dealing with health or scheduling challenges.
A limited POA can give your chosen representative permission to handle tasks like signing contracts, negotiating offers, and closing on the property. Because every state has its own rules, it’s wise to work with an attorney to ensure your POA document is valid for real estate transactions.
The right setup can keep your home sale on track without you having to be there in person.
9. Leverage remote closing services
Thanks to modern-day technology, sellers no longer need to attend closing in person. Remote Online Notarization (RON) became common during COVID and remains available in many states, allowing you to complete the process from your computer.
Services like Notarize or NotaryCam connect you with a licensed notary over webcam, while many title companies also accept electronic signatures through tools like DocuSign.
“Title can arrange either a mail-away, a remote notarization, or they can do it digitally with an online notary,” says Hupke. “If sellers are not technology-savvy, we can certainly arrange to have a remote notary sent to them and overnight the documents.”
If your state allows remote notarization, you can review and sign documents securely from home — keeping your sale on schedule without the need for travel or in-person meetings.
It’s a pain to sell a house. Being far away doesn’t make things any easier. In this situation, consider the fast, low-hassle way to sell a home. HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform provides all-cash offers for homes nationwide in almost any condition. Receive an all-cash offer within 24 hours, and close in as little as 10 days.
Stressed About Selling Long Distance?
10. Consider selling ‘as is’ to investors
Managing repairs, showings, and contractors from afar can be stressful. Selling your property “as is” to an investor offers an easier alternative. You can sell your home in its current condition without traveling back for prep work or inspections.
The process is straightforward: request an offer, let the buyer evaluate the property, review and accept the offer, then close and get paid. Here are some pros and cons of working with a cash buyer:
Pros:
- Fast closings, often in as little as 7 days (compared with about 103 days for a traditional sale, including 62 days to go under contract and 41 days to close on a loan)
- No need to handle repairs, staging, or showings remotely
- Flexible move-out timelines and help with clearing out belongings
Cons:
- Cash offers are typically below market value
- Limited room for negotiation
- No competing offers that could raise your sale price
For a fast, remote-friendly option, HomeLight’s Simple Sale platform connects you with verified all-cash buyers nationwide so you can close quickly without setting foot on the property.
Key takeaways for selling a home from out of state
If you’re figuring out how to sell a house from out of state, the process is much simpler today than it used to be.
- Hire a local agent you trust. They can handle pricing, showings, and repairs while keeping you updated from a distance.
- Take advantage of digital tools. Virtual tours, video calls, and remote closing options make it possible to complete almost everything online.
- Decide what matters most. A traditional listing might bring a higher price, while iBuyer or investor sales offer a quicker, more hands-off experience.
With the right agent and modern technology, you can sell your home smoothly — without ever having to fly back.
Writer Valerie Kalfrin contributed to this post.
Header Image Source: (Jesse Roberts / Unsplash)
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