How to Make Your Home Stand Out in a Buyer's Market

It's common sense that right now the real estate market is more favorable to buyers than it is to sellers.

The market is flooded with homes for sale, and there are fewer buyers out there. How do you make your home stand out and beat the competition? Read a few of these tips and see if they'll work for you.

What isn't recommended when your house is for sale in a buyer's market:

Not displaying your home online. It's been shown in survey after survey that most homebuyers begin their search online. Make sure your home is there, listed on several different websites.

Not having a "For Sale" sign out front. Real estate agents run into the occasional few who don't want their neighbors to know their house is for sale. People will drive by your house and call from the yard sign, make sure it's clearly visible and don't worry about the neighbors.

Not having open houses. Normally an open house is fruitless, being filled with nosey neighbors that want to see what your house looks like. However, you never know where your next buyer is coming from, so keep the open houses up!

Not advertising in print magazines. As a real estate agent, I can vouch that the majority of print ads have become obsolete, as most people are looking online for their homes. There are still people out there though that read the homes magazines. Make sure your ad stands out!

What is a good way to get your home some attention?

Offer great marketing to your buyers. If you're home needs work, offer to credit some money back to the buyers to replace the stained carpeting, or for that needed paint job.

Offer to pay closing costs. (Make sure you set a certain amount, closing costs vary widely) Many homebuyers today are getting into a home with little to no money set aside. Paying closing costs can help a buyer get into your home without having to worry about where the extra money is coming from.

Offer an incentive. It doesn't have to be a cruise, or European vacation, but in this market you can increase your lookers by offering a free television, or a free appliance.

If you're a seller in a buyer's market, time and market conditions can be against you. They don't have to be; sometimes you just need to add some creativity to your listings!