LISTING YOUR PROPERTY

How is the price set?

Th first thing you will want to do is meet with a REALTOR so that he/she can see the property, gather information on the home and complete a market analysis based on comparable sales in the market area.
It's very important to price your home according to current market conditions. Because the real estate market is continually changing, and market fluctuations have an effect on property values, it's imperative to select your list price based on the most recent comparable sales in your neighborhood. A comparative market analysis provides the background data upon which to base your list price decision. When you prepare to sell and are interviewing agents, study each agent's comparable sales report (the data should be no more than three months old if possible). Keep in mind the pricing of a home is determined by what the market will support.  You can price high..but that does not mean the home will sell if the consumer (market) will not support it.  Pricing too high in the beginning with the mindset that you can drop if needed can, in fact, cost you to sell for lower than if home had been priced in line with comparable sales.  

What are the two most important factors when selling a home?
Price and Condition!!!!

First step is to price your home correctly as discussed above. 

Second, go through the house and repair any obvious cosmetic defects that could deter a buyer. In a down market, you may have to consider lowering your price and/or making a major repair, such as replacing the roof, in order to lure a buyer. If you can fix the condition and the cost can be recouped in the sales price, it may be worth the extra effort.  If the condition can not be changed such as lot size, house layout, or neighborhood conditions, you will have to keep this is mind when pricing. 

How do you prepare a house to sell?
Once you have decided to list and decided on the listing price of the home, now its time to get the home ready for the market. Your homes first 30 days on market is crucial and you will definitely want to put your homes best face forward.  The first impression of the home must be at its very best.  

What can you agent do?

Home assessment

Your realtor is the expert and that is why you hired one. The agent should be walking the home and pointing out anything they believe could be an issue and advising you on how to resolve it.  The job of the agent is to be honest and help you get the home market ready,  and sometimes this can be hard for the homeowner to hear, but ultimately the agent is working to get your home sold.  Some agents work with staging professionals that will provide assessments on how to improve the flow of the home and furniture placement and tips on staging your home for showings.  The stager can also provide home furnishings,(at a cost), for empty homes to help the potential buyer see the homes potential.  

Photos

Photos of your home should be taken by a professional photographer!!!  Most buyers pick their homes to preview from the photos listed on the MLS..your agent should be investing the money to have them taken and making sure every possible marketing tactic is being used to sell your home.  

Marketing 

Your REALTOR will be marketing your home to potential buyers.  This can include mailers, Social Media, networking with other REALTORS, and utilization of other Real Estate websites.  Ask your Realtor what their marketing plan is for your property!

What can the homeowner do?

Short of spending a lot of money, here are several ideas for making your home show better and to appeal to more potential buyers:

• Curb appeal- power wash home, front entry, driveway and sidewalks, trim low lying limbs, clean out flower beds and replace with fresh mulch, mow and maintain lawn regularly , wipe down front door, clean all windows, keep entry way free of debris and make sure doorbell works.
• Clean...Clean....Clean- Make sure all carpets are cleaned, baseboards and trim are wiped down, all appliance should be cleaned, organize closets, keep all furniture dusted, floors should be mopped, inside of window should be cleaned, bathroom mirrors, shower doors and tubs should be cleaned as well as toilet.
• Paint-Painting is one of the best and most recommended thing you can do to help sell your property.  If the walls are dingy or marked up, painting can solve this quickly and make the home look fresh and clean.  Also most buyers are looking for a move in ready home.  If the home has multiple paint colors, or bright or bold colors it may be worth the time, effort and money to repaint a neutral color. 
• Declutter-Keep countertops free of clutter..less is better, go ahead and pack and store items that you are not using, keep children's toys to a minimum or stored away during showings.  Remember you want to show the attributes of the home...not your "stuff"
• PETS...I am a pet lover, however not everyone is a fan.  Litterboxes should be cleaned daily and changed regularly, wash dog beds, remove pet hair as needed on floors, rugs and furniture.  A house that smells like pets is not feature that buyers are looking for.  Removing pets from the home during showings is best if possible.  
• For Showings, leave all lights on, have a nice fresh scent in the home, open up blinds, make up beds, and have soft music playing in the background...you want the buyer to remember your home..