Often wonder why some houses are swamped with showings after being on the market for sometimes only a week -- while the rest will experience none? Nearly all home sellers expect their house to sell quickly, but the truth is, few do. The difference is often a question of readiness. Price and location are certainly what appeal most to buyers, but there is often more than what meets the buyer's eyes. Here are some selling tips to ensure your house is under contract in the shortest time possible.

(a) Enlist the help of a high quality, state-of-the-art (and internet-marketing savvy) real estate agent. Sounds obvious, but the better trained and experienced the agent is, the more likely your house can be sold quickly.

(b) Role play. Hard as it may be, try and look at your home objectively, through the eyes of a potential buyer. Is there anything you can see that you think: 'This is good, but it looks like they're working on that ...'?  Ask your friends or neighbors to offer their point of view.

(c) Among the most sure-fire tips to getting your house quickly noticed is a heavy marketing campaign. With so many houses being sold daily, how can you be sure they will find yours? A quick house sale requires excellent marketing skills -- and an intimate knowledge of how marketing your home on the internet can bring a flood of potential buyers to your door.

(d) Offer incentives. When it's time to take any means necessary, start providing extra perks, such as a home warranty, or a credit towards closing costs, to lure prospective buyers in even more.

(e) If all else fails, and you start getting desperate, you might consider offering your home for rent. Afraid of staying a homeowner forever? Discuss with the tenants your initial need to sell the house. Renting with an option to buy is something you might also consider.

Some say selling quickly is all a matter of luck. While there is some truth to that. waiting for luck will do nothing to speed up the process. Preparation, preparation, and preparation are the three things you need most to ensure a quick sale.