This is a very difficult time to sell a home. With all the Bank Foreclosures and Short Sales going on, It’s a fantastic time to buy but if you need to sell your home, you will need all the help you can get. The saying “ timing is everything”, could not be more appropriate than today. My advise would be to not sell at this time but if you have no choice, then you will need to be very competitive in this market. Your first decision will be to either sell your home “ For Sale by Owner” or list it with a Realtor. If you choose to sell it yourself, you have your work cut out for you. About 90% of the homes that actually get sold are listed with a Realtor and marketed on the MLS system. It is possible to sell it yourself but you will have to be competitive with the other homes for sale in your community. What ever your choice is, here is a list of things that can help get your home sold.

• Fix all items that could be considered a Safety Issue. Plumbing, Electrical, Structural.
• If the home needs paint, paint it with calm neutral colors.
• If you have carpet, clean it or replace if necessary. I hear clients say, “ I will let the buyers pick their own carpet”. Wrong choice, the home needs to look good when you show it or the buyers will loose interest.
• Curb appeal is very important. If you have dead plants, grass, broken fences, fix or replace.
• Your front door should be freshly painted and the entry should be neat and clean.
• If you need to paint the interior, paint everything the same neutral color.
• Put all your clutter and personal items in storage. This makes the home appear larger.
• Offer a home warranty with the home. The buyers love this and it protects the seller as well as the buyer.
• If you have Sun Shades on your windows, take them off. The home will appear brighter.
• If you have pets, put them in an area out of the way. Cages work well.
• If you are home when there is a showing, get out of the way and don’t follow the buyers around.
• If the home is vacant, consider staging it with minimal furniture.