4.21.2007

Home seller tips - updated!

1. Make sure your home has great curb appeal! This is one way to gain an advantage over competitiors in this tough market!
  • Give your front door has a fresh coat of paint! The entryway is the first impression potential buyers will have of your home!
  • Make sure your exterior coach lights are clean and in good condition. If not, consider replacing them!
  • Clean your windows.
  • Re-seal your driveway, if applicable.
  • Mulch & plant some colorful flowers.

2. Update light fixtures, even just those in the main living areas. Get rid of the brass!!! Any small updates you can do will help your home sell faster!
3. If you have ceramic tile in your home, have the grout cleaned! Again, these small things will make your home show better, and may very well be the difference between someone bringing an offer on your home, or someone else's home!
4. Have carpets professionally cleaned, and keep them swept.
5. Have someone walk through your home that isn't there often, like a friend or family member. Things that need to be tended to may stick out to someone else, but may not to you because you see it everyday!
6. Touch up your walls with paint, where needed.
7. De-personalize your home. When potential buyers are walking through your home, it'll be easier for them to imagine themselves starting a life in the home if there aren't family photos all over!
8. De-clutter. Collect something? Pack them up, put them in boxes, and store. Store most anything that isn't necessary for everyday living for you! A "stager" or your Realtor will be able to assist you in this!
9. Be as flexible as possible with scheduling showings. If someone is out with a buyer for a short time, and they aren't able to get in to your home, more than likely, they'll forget about it, and move on!
10. Trying to sell a vacant home? Have it staged, even if it's only a few key items! Studies show overwhelmingly that a vacant home will sit on the market much longer than a furnished home. Most buyers have a difficult time judging if their furniture will fit, and having furniture in the home will help them compare!
11. Be prepared to negotiate. If you're stuck, and you're really not able to accept much (if any) less than the asking price, make it known, and be creative with negotiating other aspects of the offer!
12. Have a 1 year home warranty in place by a reputable company.
13. Price your home competitively from the get go. The first six weeks your home is on the market are the most important. You'll get most of your traffic then. If your home sits on the market for too long, potential buyers will wonder if there is a problem with the property, and shy away from it.
14. Good luck, be patient, and if all else fails, bury a St. Joseph's statue and pray! :)

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