Are You Ready to Sell Your Home?

Selling a house ranks right up there with death and divorce in the annals of lifes most stressful situations. Today it is even more complicated than ever. With a cooler market and plenty of disclosure and legal liabilities, it is important for homeowners to come up with a sound plan months before the first Open House. Here are a few suggestions.

Walk through your house, starting at the curb. Take off the rose colored glasses and put on the microscopic version. Is the grass green? Are there any dead or dying plants that need to be pulled out? Can you actually see the house through the foliage? A great line by home stager Barb Schwartz is 'if they can't see it, you can't sell it'.

Once inside the same principal applies. Sweep away clutter, add a fresh coat of paint. Wash and shine all the windows. If your clutter is overwhelming, consider renting a storage pod for the duration of the sale. When you move it can go with you.

Make sure all the systems, such as heating and air, plumbing and electrical are in good working order in your home. It might pay to have a home inspection done before the sale so you won't be surprised during an escrow and possibly loose the deal. A home inspector can recommend any repairs that might need to be done. Be advised however that if an inspector discovers an issue and you choose not to fix it you are obligated to disclose this fact to the seller.

Use a Realtor to sell your home. The one obvious reason is money. According to the National Association of Realtors the "median home price for sellers who use an agent is 16.0 % higher than a home sold directly by an owner." That is $230,000 vs. $198,000 for example. When you consider that agents are paid about 6% in commissions, you're still ahead 10% by listing with a Realtor.

A qualified Realtor will also be able determine a reasonable asking price that will help your home sell faster. Realtors have access to mountains of information regarding housing sales in your neighborhood. Market conditions, location of the home, and seller urgency all enter into the equation of price. Your goal as a seller is to get the best possible price, with the most agreeable terms in the shortest window of time.

The next step in selling a home is the marketing. Think of name brands such as Apple, Toyota and Starbucks. Your home is a product as much as a computer, a car, or a cup of coffee. How it is branded and presented to the marketplace makes a huge difference in the price and time factor. Once your home is ready, quality photographs and video will be shot optimizing the bests features. Your Realtor will list the home on the multiple listing service in your area where thousands of agents will have access to the listing.

Next your Realtor will list the house on as many internet sites as possible as a good 70% of home buyers now start their search online. Good old fashioned newspaper and magazine ads are here to stay however and the home can be featured in local and national papers. The marketing material will always contain pictures, price, location and access to internet information on the home such as a personal websites.

Finally the day of the Open House. Make sure the lights are on, the toys and animals are put away. Jazz or classical music should be wafting through the house along with the smell of fresh coffee or baked cookies. Windows open, signs up. It's often best to leave the open house to your Realtor as potential buyers feel a lot more comfortable roaming your home without you looking over their shoulder. It pays not to be rushed and the longer they stay the better. So, take the day and go to the movies or the park with your family. If you have done your homework, no pun intended!, you should be on your way to a sale!