The most popular method of selling a house is to go through an estate agent. However, this can often be a slow process and if viewers are being put off your property by, for example, a need for modernisation or an unpopular location then often the estate agent will lose interest and your house will stay on their books un-marketed for what could run into several months.

Other options include selling your house privately by putting up your own board or placing advertisements in the local newspapers or on the internet. However, the same lack of interest is likely to arise if your property or location isn't highly saleable, and in this case you will need funds to pay for advertisements; if financial difficulties are the reason behind your need to sell your house quickly then this will of course be out of the question.

To sell a house quickly you are going to need to look at specific services that cater for quick property sales; there is a good choice, but make sure you receive the best possible service from a reputable company that keeps you informed at all times and offers excellent value.

Five reasons you may need to sell a house quickly

1. Financial Difficulties and Avoiding Repossession

You may have fallen into arrears with your mortgage due to rising interest rates and an upsurge in the cost of living, or you could be under pressure to repay mounting debts. If you want to avoid repossession or bankruptcy and the damage it does to your credit file, then a possible solution is to sell your house quickly to a specialist company who will then rent it back to you. The benefits of this solution are that moving becomes unnecessary, children won't need to move away from their school or their friends, and most of the stress associated with repossession is alleviated. There is no substitute for keeping a roof over your family's head and maintaining continuity for children.

2. Divorcing

If you are separating from your husband or wife and wish to hasten your divorce settlement then you will need to sell your house quickly.

Selling through an estate agent could prolong divorce proceedings if the property market is slow and this can be emotionally draining for all parties concerned. For this reason it is wise to seek a cash buyer - preferably a specialist who will offer you a quick house sale.

3. Moving Abroad

If you are looking to relocate or retire abroad then you will inevitably spend a great deal of time and effort looking for the perfect location and property. Once you've found your ideal home you will need to move quickly in order to secure it. However, if you don't have the funds readily available then sadly you could lose the property, which is why you would need to sell your house quickly to finance the overseas purchase.

4. Bereavement

Dealing with the passing of a loved one is a harsh experience, and the responsibility of handling the administration of an estate can be extremely arduous. For this reason, if a property forms part of the inheritance it is in everyone's best interests to sell the house quickly so that the difficult experience doesn't drag on needlessly.

5. Relocation

If you are moving to another part of the country due to a career change then chances are you will need to do so with haste. Often families are temporarily separated because they are unable to sell their house quick enough for them to be able to relocate together. This means that whilst the children and one of the parents stays in the family home, the other parent has to move away and possibly rent accommodation in the interim: a drain both emotionally and financially. In these cases selling a house quickly would be beneficial all round.

Selling a house quickly is often the best and sometimes the only option in many cases. Traditional sale methods are rarely the answer where a quick sale is needed so it's best not to waste time on them at all. If you need a quick sale, whatever the reason, look for a specialist who provides this service, and very soon you could be ready to start the next phase of your life.