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Selling tips headline

5 Tips For
Maximizing Your Sales Opportunity

1) Do your homework. Find out the local market conditions for your neighborhood. Depending on your area, there may be better/worse times during the year to put your house on the market. Once you’ve decided to sell, there are 3 different levels of service you should consider:

1. Sell the home yourself (FSBO)

2. List with a Discount / Flat fee broker

3. Use a full service real estate agent/brokerage

Selling the house yourself: You bear the responsibility for marketing your property, making full legal disclosures about the property, and getting inspections and appraisals done. You'll need to be comfortable with real estate documents as well as the legal implications resulting from a transaction.

For maximum exposure to the most qualified buyers, list with a full-service real estate broker. Make sure to interview more than one agent or agency.

Find out if they are a REALTOR® — a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS. Members of NAR subscribe to a code of ethics that guarantees the highest level of service and integrity. Check agent's references. Talk with former clients to see if the agent is responsive and kept them up-to-date. Have direct contact with your agent.

The agent that handles your listing should:

• Provide a Marketing Plan for your house

• Prepare a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) of properties in your area

• Help determine the Best Selling Price for your house

• Advice on any suggested Home Upgrades that will make a significant difference in selling the house

Potential buyers need to see themselves living in the house, so present the property in its best light without displaying your personality. Put yourself in the position of a potential buyer and view the property starting at street side. Note areas that need to be addressed before listing the property.

2) Clean and paint the walls. Replace worn flooring. Repair damaged caulking around sinks and tubs. Consider hiring a cleaning service. Display your best linens, towels, and shower curtains. Make the beds, and put fresh flower arrangements in a few appropriate places. Make your house odor-free. An aroma is good, odor is not. Don't tried to mask odors with cover-up perfumes.

3) Remove yourself from the house. Pack up small appliances on countertops. Remove knick-knacs on tables and shelves throughout the house. Buyers should be able to visualize the space in each room without being distracted by personal photographs and other decorative items that reflect your personality. Remove all little items that only cause clutter. Remove all personal items. Remove excess furniture to make rooms look bigger. Remove heavy, dark curtains and replace with sheer ones that let in more light. Remove clutter from closets, including shelves and floors. Remove extra clothes from the closet.

4) Remember the outside comes first in the buyer's eye! A little prudent and inexpensive landscaping can enhance curb appeal. Eliminate weeds, patch bare spots, fertilize and water the lawn before listing. Bushes that cover windows should be pruned to let more light into the home. In season, plant some fast growing annuals, such as impatiens and petunias for an instant spot of color. A few well-placed flower pots by the front door can also be used to add some color. Today’s buyers want low maintenance. Your goal should be a beautifully maintained yard that looks easy to care for.

5) Understand that the selling process can be difficult. House selling is right up there with a death in the family as far as being a stress cause. Understanding this will happen, can help you get through the process.

With a tight house market like we are experiencing today, there are many things that must be done to improve your odds of selling faster. This means you have to be READY to sell your house before you can sell your house. Once you are ready to sell, keep it that way throughout the process. That means everything stays in place for the duration. Beds are made daily. Kitchen is cleaned after each meal. Bathrooms are cleaned after showers. Everything is clean, clean, clean. This way when an agent wants to show, you won't have to frantically run around trying to pick up. Be ready before they ask.