Tips to Sell Your Home in a Competitive Market

The news headlines recently are full of depressing news about the housing market. The market is beginning to improve, so apparently some people are successfully marketing their homes! Here are some basic guidelines for selling your home in a buyers’ market.

After deciding to sell your home, you will probably want to find the right real estate agent to help market and sell your home. A good agent knows the local market very well. Hopefully he/she has been working for a long time in your area, understands what sells and why, and networks with local people and businesses to get their listings sold.

A good licensed realtor will have numerous marketing strategies to get your home sold in their bag of tricks. Other than word of mouth, they will probably utilize newspaper ads, fliers, and most importantly, the internet, specifically the MLS. More and more home buyers are shopping on the internet before they step outside their current home, so it is important that your agent not only list your home on the Multiple Listing Service, at the very least, but also provide photos and perhaps videos of your home to entice buyers inside.

Once you have decided on a local agent to work with, it is your job now to get your home in show-worthy condition. Your agent will give you tips on what you can do to make your home appealing, but there are some specific things you can do that will get you the most money and sell your home faster:

Clean, clean, and clean some more. A dirty home is difficult to sell, especially in a competitive market. If your home appears dirty, a buyer will think you probably don’t take care of it. And that buyer will very likely offer less on a home that requires work than one that is in “turn key condition.” Yuor home should be inviting. Atmosphere is everything for most potential home buyers.

Store your clutter. Put half of your personal items in storage. You want your home to look more like a model home, which means remove your personal pictures and personal care items that might make people uncomfortable. You want them to envision themselves in the house; not yourself and your family. This is especially important in rooms like the kitchen and bathroom where space is important.

Freshen up with paint. This is an inexpensive and relatively easy way to make your home more attractive. Neutral colors sell best.

Curb appeal. Stand outside your home and try to imagine how your home looks to a total stranger. Overgrown plants, poorly kept lawns, trash, debris, even toys should be removed. Your yard should appear well maintained if you want your house to appear inviting. Consider adding flower pots for color if you are listing your home during the growing season.

Home Staging. Professional home stagers make sure that a home appears clean, uncluttered, and visually ready for a buyer to picture themselves in your house. Why not check out a book from the library, or watch one of the home staging shows on TV for some tips on how to stage your home?

Remember that selling your home in an adverse market is possible…it just takes effort and determination on your part!

Luxury Real Estate in Southern Florida Brings in-depth local market knowledge and the resources of EWM and Christie’s Great Estates, plus local experience and global network access to your purchase or sale transaction. This article powered by SEO 2.0 Services