You may be eager to sell your home for any number of reasons.

Maybe you found a house that is perfect, and you want to snap it up before someone else does. Maybe you’ve landed your dream job in another city.

Though you may be in a hurry, don’t rush to put your home on the market if it’s not ready. Here are a few reasons why:

The house should be viewer-friendly

Take a good look around at your home — does it look the way it did when you first saw it? It probably doesn’t. Consider renting a storage unit to safely house clutter and valuables until after your home sells. This will ease pressure on you and your family when it comes to last-minute showings; you’ll have less to clean and less to worry about.

…and the house should be clean

First impressions really matter here. Spring for professional photographs — you’ll make that money back tenfold. Your home should be clean, orderly, and show-ready. And — bad news for those of you who hate vacuuming: it has to stay that way for as long as it’s listed. Any effort you put toward mopping floors, washing windows, and making beds will be well worth it. Listing a messy or cluttered house turns off potential buyers, as does a listing that isn’t complete or doesn’t contain all relevant information. Put your best foot forward — the most important timeframe for a listing is the first 14 days. A listing that’s been hanging around for too long can be perceived as stale (at best) or undesirable (at worst).

The price should be right

Think carefully about the selling price; depend on your real estate agent for this. You may want the highest possible price, but your agent will have the most up-to-date information about comparable homes in your area, as well as a high degree of experience and training about what to look for in a listing. The right price will lead to a fast sale, which makes everyone happy. Also, a price that’s at or slightly under market value can lead to a bidding war, which means a higher selling price.

In short, take your time with this process. Make your home look as attractive as possible, and don’t set a price without consulting experts. The more time you spend on preparation and planning behind the scenes, the quicker and easier the sales process will be when you’re ready to list.

Amanda Zachman is an entrepreneur, business leader, former Big Brother Star, and mom of 3 with more than 12 years of experience in the real estate industry. In 2014, Zachman founded MV Realty, a disruptive tech-focused real estate brokerage and proptech firm dedicated to meeting the needs of the modern broker, home buyer, and home seller. She is also part of the team that developed the company’s innovative Homeowner Benefit Program®, which pays homeowners a cash payment in exchange for agreeing to use MV Realty as its real estate agency, should they ever choose to sell their home. Visit www.mvrealty.com.