What you need to know as a seller:

          Things to remember when thinking about listing your home....

Exposure, Exposure, Exposure!  The chosen real estate agent must give your listing enough exposure.  Do remember, that we are in a buyer’s market, which means there are more homes on the market than buyers, so all the more important are the websites a listing will appear and the better the chance of hitting every buyer and realtor possible.  This leads to more showings, which leads to offers and, ultimately, a sale!  Ask how the realtor plans to effectively use the internet to market your home.

This will reach a large pool of buyers that can not be reached effectively by traditional advertising methods.

Have a realistic expectation as to your asking price.  When we think of our home and how special it is to us, the value naturally goes up.  When you trust in a realtor to give you realistic and fair figures based on comparable sales in your area, you can feel comfortable that you will sell your home at or above its current value!   There is a direct correlation between price and obtaining an offer--once the price is listed at a marketable price for the location, showings rise and an offer is inevitable!

There may be unique qualities to a home that some buyers can’t seem to see through.  You love bright orange and green walls - you make them look beautiful - unfortunately they aren’t as beautiful and appealing to all buyers.  Painting is one of the cheapest ways to freshen up a home to look newer and not out-dated.  When looking around your home, think ‘neutral’ colors that won’t scare off buyers.  Another great way to make the home even more appealing is to have your realtor help you stage the house.  Using your own furniture and belongings makes this another very inexpensive alternative; remember, it’s a huge plus when someone walks into your home and can see themselves living there!  The right agent will show you how to "DRESS YOUR HOUSE FOR SUCCESS" and sell quickly for top dollar. Studies show that homes prepared for sale and showings sell first and net the seller more money. 

Visible repairs can scare off some buyers…especially when faced with an FHA or VA loan—in this case, the loan will not be approved until these repairs are corrected.  For this reason, any wood rot, leak spots, etc. should be repaired before listing the property.  This way, when an offer is presented and an inspection is ordered, there are no surprises to you, your realtor, or the buyer!  Fresh air filters, and clean vents are also a great sign that a person takes care of the home outside of the visible qualities.  And, finally...

Curb Appeal!  When a buyer drives up to a property, the first impression is the walk to the front door.  Having the yard well kept, the landscaping beds weeded and trees trimmed help in the initial look.  The entry way should be welcoming and warm to make for an ‘at home’ feeling.  Add potted plants to the outside, fountains, flowers and door wreaths to add a warm, comfortable tone!  And the best part is, those can all move with you!