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TIPS FOR SELLING YOUR HOME
There are dozens of things you can do to sell your house faster, and get a better price. If you don’t have time to do them all, start with the ones that will get the most “bang for your buck.
- Know your market. Find out what other similar houses have sold for, and have those examples ready to show potential buyers.
- Decide on your minimum price – the price below which you will just not move. Don’t tell your agent what this minimum is, but work with any buyers who make an offer above it.
- Clean the most visible things first. Buy a new mailbox, perhaps. If buyers fall in love with the house before they even enter it, they’ll forgive a lot of problems.
- Clean up the neighborhood. If there’s a neighbor whose yard is a mess, give their kids $10 to pick up the yard. Spend another $20 to put flowers in any common areas, and buyers will have a better first impression of the neighborhood.
- If you or your agent are not getting many calls, find out why. Is more advertising necessary, or is the price too high? Drop it fast, if price is the problem.
- Listen to comments of prospects. They will be more objective than you. If you hear several times that the kitchen is dark, get out the white paint.
- Find out what the average sales time is in your area. If your house is taking longer than average to sell, there is a problem. Usually it’s price.
- Be sure to ask your real estate agent what they plan to do – before you sign a listing agreement. Write down what he says, and hold him to his promises.
- If there are any known problems, such as an old roof, get an estimate for repairs. The sellers may want a $7,000 allowance for a new roof – until you show them your $4,000 estimate.
- Do any improvements that can realistically get you at least a two-to-one return on investment. If $300 to seal the driveway is likely to add $600 to the sales price of the home, do it. Consider first those things that are most visible.
