| The longer a piece of property stalls, the greater | | | | investments, sellers must map out their selling plan. |
| threat it poses to your marketability and profit. There | | | | What is a reasonable price for that market and how |
| are 7 simple things you can do to enhance your | | | | far would you be willing to come down off that price? |
| home's appeal, get warm bodies through the door and | | | | Set a date on which you will reduce the cost if the |
| close the deal sooner rather than later. | | | | home has not yet sold, as flexibility is key. A good |
| 1) Open houses | | | | agent should have the know-how to help you with |
| This is one of the most popular weekend activities. | | | | mapping out your strategy. |
| Letting people walk through your home - touching it, | | | | 5) Get organized |
| feeling it, picturing their children playing in your backyard | | | | Cleaning out all your personal stuff can make a |
| - is a highly effective way to generate interest. | | | | prospective buyer start viewing the home as their |
| However, an open house is only as effective as the | | | | own. A clean, open, clutter-free space leaves room for |
| traffic it generates. Without some other key | | | | imagination and creativity. Does your home have a |
| home-selling strategies, you may find your open house | | | | wealth of storage space? Show it off by cleaning and |
| events sorely disappointing. | | | | organizing your closets and cabinets. Above all, make |
| 2) Perks | | | | sure the home stays clean. Nothing kills a deal faster |
| Creativity is key in some areas where the housing | | | | than seeing hairbrushes and dirty dishes lying around. |
| market has peaked, leaving sellers at their wit's end. | | | | 6) Get chic |
| Throwing in perks like a cash rebate disguised as a | | | | An interior decorator with an eye for design can be |
| "decorator's allowance" or homeowner's association | | | | your best friend. Their skills can entice buyers and help |
| fees for a year can be very enticing. It can also be | | | | transition the house from "your home" to a "show |
| considerably cheaper than letting your property | | | | home." Spring for new end tables, pillows, decorating |
| languish on the market, forcing you to slash the price. | | | | accessories, fresh paint on the walls and ceilings. You |
| One of the standard incentives is to cover closing | | | | may even want to remove your old personal effects, |
| costs for the seller. When including perks, be mindful of | | | | such as family pictures. Small details like setting the |
| the buyer's perception. You don't want to seem | | | | dining room table as if you were about to host a dinner |
| over-eager, because they will then question your | | | | party can also help prospective buyers picture |
| motives and probably use that against you in price | | | | themselves in your home. |
| negotiations. | | | | 7) Professional photography |
| 3) Hire the best | | | | Just as professional models attract jobs by using |
| Hiring a good agent with years of experience and | | | | professional photographers for their head shots, so |
| knowledge of the market and its current trends is | | | | should you give your home top-notch treatment. |
| crucial. For Sale By Owner properties are generally | | | | Quality photos of not just the exterior, but several |
| preyed upon by opportunistic investors who plan to flip | | | | different rooms on the interior, can enable prospective |
| the property and see this as a way to take | | | | buyers to take a "virtual tour" of your home. |
| advantage. If you don't have the knowledge and the | | | | In this day and age, Internet shopping is becoming |
| real estate savvy, get somebody on your side who | | | | increasingly popular as an essential step that precedes |
| does. Hiring a good agent will generally bring you a | | | | an actual home tour. It is important to gain interest up |
| higher sale price, and is worth any commission you | | | | front with these photos, and a professional can help |
| may have to pay out in the end. | | | | capture the true essence of your home. It is a |
| 4) Make a map | | | | worthwhile investment to drive up interest and foot |
| Just as real estate investors create a plan for their | | | | traffic. |