Home Selling Tips

When you’re preparing your house for sale, remember the importance of first impressions. The market isn’t the only factor that influences whether you get your asking price. Appearance and overall condition play a major role. Here are some easy things you can do to make your home more appealing to buyers.

Outside:

• Sweep front walkways
• Remove newspapers, bikes and toys
• Park extra cars away from the property
• Trim back the shrubs
• Apply fresh, clean paint throughout
• Clean windows and window coverings
• Keep plumbing and all appliances in working order
• Maintain all sealants (window, tub, shower, sink, etc.) in good condition
• Mow the lawn more frequently and plant flowers
• Keep pet areas clean

Inside:

• Kitchen and bathroom should shine
• Quick once-over with the vacuum; carpets should be clean
• Place fresh flowers in the main rooms
• Put dishes away, unless setting a formal display for decoration
• Make beds and put all clothes away
• Open drapes and turn lights on for a brighter feel
• Straighten closets
• Turn off television
• Put toys away
• Play soft music on the radio/stereo
• Keep pets out of the way and pet areas clean and odor-free
• Enhance the spaciousness of each room.
• Pack away collectables to allow buyer to envision own furnishings in home.

Pricing Your Home

Statistics show that a house receives its highest offer within the first four to six weeks on the market. Therefore, setting a realistic price is imperative to capture the attention of prospective buyers. Competitive pricing is essential to your home being shown and sold. If you want to sell your home quickly, price it slightly below your best competition.

Avoid the temptation to overprice your home. Overpricing brings serious risks. For example, it:

• Puts your home out of the price range of a large group of buyers
• Makes other homes more attractive and competitive
• Discourages serious buyers who are educated on fair market value
• Results in repeated price reductions, which plant doubts in buyers' minds
• Wastes valuable marketing time, particularly in the first 30 days

Pay attention to feedback from prospective buyers and agents, and be prepared to make adjustments accordingly.

Marketing Tools

After your home is prepared for sale and priced appropriately, I will utilize various combinations of the following tools to effectively market your home.

• "For Sale" sign in your yard
• Lock box (Improves exposure by 50%!)
• Computerized listing service
• Home feature flyer, with color photo and home specifics
• Financing flyer, showing available financing plans, interest rates, and monthly payment examples
• Home preview by your agent's office and associated offices
• Public open houses
• Broker caravans
• Direct-mail campaigns (flyers, posters)
• Local, regional, and national newspaper advertising
• Color photo magazine listing ads sponsored by your agent's firm
• Web site listings
• Talking houses