13 Valuable Tips For Selling Your Home Quickly

Everyone knows that the real estate market has seen better days. It’s been mostly bad news for home sellers, and that means its good news for home buyers. The shrewd home buyers are out trying to take advantage of the current buyer’s market. Below you will find 13 tips you can do to help sell your home.

1. Scrutinize your listing agent’s online marketing skills – Almost 100% of homebuyers will start their house hunting online, so make sure that your agent’s online listings are compelling enough for the potential home buyer to drive by and get out of the car. Listings with more than 6 pictures are twice as likely to be viewed by buyers then the listings that include less than 6 pictures.

2. Upload a video tour of your home on YouTube - Purchase or borrow a FlipCam or other type of up loadable projector and walk through your home and your neighborhood, informing prospective home buyers about the best parts of what you and your family enjoy about the house and where you live.

3. Have your neighbor’s help you sell and market your home – Join the neighborhood online message boards or email lists, and send a link to your home’s online listing to your neighbors. If your agent is having an “Open House”, make sure and invite your neighbors and turn it into a block party. Create opportunities for your neighbors to assist by selling the neighborhood to prospective buyers and for your neighbors to invite people they may know who want to live in the area.

4. Facebook your home’s listing - Facebook is an excellent marketing tool connecting people. Having your 200 friends connected to each of their 200 friends. Can you imagine the power of that network in getting the word out about your homes listing?

5. Leave some good and of value behind with the purchase of the home -Buyers are looking for incentives to purchase your home over another. In today’s housing market closing cost credits are almost so common that buyers just expect them they don’t distinguish your house from other on the market anymore. To make a difference to your home over others is to include some of your personal property, something above and beyond what the average homebuyer has. Some ideas could include stainless steel kitchen appliances, a plasma TV, or how about a golf cart if your home is on a golf course?

6. Beat the competition with condition – In today’s market most of the housing market’s competition is with low-priced foreclosures and short sales. The way you can compete as an individual homeowner is on your homes condition. Have a termite inspection in advance of listing your home, and get as many repairs done as you can. Being able to advertise with a very low or non-existent repair bill can be a major selling point, and just the advantage you may need to sell quickly.

7. You stage the inside when showing your home; well stage the exterior of your home too - Fresh exterior paint, immaculate landscaping and clean outdoor furniture on the deck will increase positive visibility to potential home buyers. Home buyers like to fantasize about enjoying their backyards by entertaining and spending time outside.

8. Having your home accessible is essential – You have got to show if you want to sell it. Many foreclosures and short sale listings are vacant and can be shown at anytime. Make it easy for agents to get their clients into your home. If they can only show it during a very restrictive time frame, chances are they will just cross your home off the list and go show the homes that are more easily accessible.

9. it’s important to be realistic in regard to the listing price – Buyers today are very educated about comparable sales in the areas they are searching, which heavily influences the fair market value of your home. They also know that they’re in the driver’s seat. To make your home competitive, have your broker or agent get you the sales prices of the three most similar homes that have sold in your area in the last month or so. Then try to go 10-15% below that when you set your home’s list price. The homes that look like a great deal and are in good physical condition are the ones that get the most visits from buyers and, on occasion, even receive multiple offers. Let the potential buyers start a bidding war!

10. Know your competition - Your broker or agent can and should educate you about the price, type of sale condition of the other homes your home is up against. It is a good idea to attend some open houses in your area.  Increase your property’s favor by ensuring that the condition of your home is up to par with the competition.

11. De-personalize your home when showing to potential buyers – Act as if you’re moving out. Take all the items that make your home “your” personal (e.g., family photos, religious décor, and other types of memorabilia), pack them and place them in storage. Buyers want to visualize your house being their house, and it’s difficult for them to do that with all your personal items throughout the property.

12. De-clutter your home too - Pack away all of your tchotchkes, anything that is sitting on top of a countertop, table, or other flat surfaces.  Also pack away anything that you haven’t used in at least a year. Give away what you can, throw away as much as possible of what remains, and then pack the rest to get it ready to move.

13. Listen to your agent - Find an agent you trust and follow their advice as often as you can. An experienced real estate agent with a successful track record of selling homes in your area will offer excellent recommendations because they want to make you happy with a quick and stress free sale!