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Want to Be a Real Estate SELLER or Land a Fire Sale Price?
O.K. you're a seller, you have your RealtorŪ, and you know about the seven real estate deadly sins, let's see about getting your real estate SOLD!
Those who are not working with a RealtorŪ should go straight to the FSBO page.
Price is what is going to make or break you as a seller. Are you in line with all the other houses out there, or is yours a "special case"? Your house must be "special" because you have lived in it all these years and got it fixed up the way you like it! WRONG! You don't know the prospective buyers taste! You MUST stop thinking of this as your "home", it's just a piece of dirt with a house on it!.
Sit down with your RealtorŪ and go over the "comps" very carefully. Remember they are not emotionally attached to the house like you are. You must set a price where you will get the exposure you need in the marketplace, without giving away the farm. You, as the seller, do have the final say on the price, but be realistic. A good RealtorŪ will usually not accept an overpriced listing as it can harm their reputation and they will be working for nothing anyway when it doesn't sell.
Now that price is out of the way, let's get the house ready to sell. Step back and take a very critical look at your "real estate", remember it's no longer your home. What would you see if you were a buyer instead of the seller? What are your first impressions? Take a good look from the middle of your street and what do you see? Does your house have curb appeal?
Flower packs from your local nursery are inexpensive and will do wonders for the first impression. Is your yard watered and green, or does it look tired and dead? Is the grass cut and hedges and bushes trimmed?
Do you need to hire a gardener for the time your real estate is on the market? Is the back yard (and front) free of wind blown trash and leaves? Do you have broken planters and pots?
You can NEVER make a second FIRST IMPRESSION!
You could give prospective buyers a copy of the report, showing them that you have taken care of all the problems upfront. The buyer is going to have their own home inspection anyway and use the results to get concessions from you. If you beat them to the punch, they may not get their own inspection done and that way you know what you are dealing with. Are you going to offer a sellers home warranty?
STAGING YOUR HOUSEStaging means "setting up" your house in the best possible way so it is more attractive to buyers.
You can hire a professional "home stager" or do it yourself.
How to STAGE for more $$$ and a FASTER Sale!
In most cases, there are really only two home remodeling projects that have a good chance of bringing in more than they cost. In older neighborhoods, updating the bathroom and kitchen will usually get you a higher price, recouping most, if not more than you spent. However, there are less expensive things you can do to improve your real estate SALEABILITY
Fix all niggly things like dripping faucets. Scrub and clean everything that doesn't move (your teenagers excepted) until it passes the white glove test. You might want to consider a house cleaning service to keep that extra sparkle current. 
Consider installing some track lighting. In any case, turn all the lights on when there is a showing. Put higher wattage bulbs in lamps but be careful not to exceed the manufacturers recommendation.
Put some fresh flowers around the house to brighten things up. Get rid of clutter both in the house and garage. Think about buying a "Home Staging" book or video. You can also hire a professional to do it for you.
For wholesale plants to brighten your house, click below.
That's it for now so let's go on to For Sale By Owner (FSBO).
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