Sell Your Home in a Down Market

I love the real estate market, especially when it gets challenging. Right now we are faced with one of the worst markets in years. It is predicted that it will get better in fall of 2008 and completely turn around by Spring of 2009. If you can just sit on your real estate until then, great, but if you must sell you need to follow these tips for a quick turn around.

Paint Those Walls

A fresh coat of paint in a neutral color can make all of the difference in the world. Yes it will be a lot of work, but believe me it is worth it. I highly recommend painting the whole house before you put it on the market. This is crucial if you have lavender bedroom walls or a green bathroom.

One of my favorite places to get painting ideas is Home and Garden Television on line. Check out some of their fabulous low cost makeovers and use those tips.

Carpet

Replace any carpet that has stains on it. If your carpet is old and worn, rip it up, call your local carpet dealer, or maybe a few to price things out, and replace that carpet. No one wants to move into a house with a worn dirty carpet, and although steam cleaning can do a lot, it can make old carpet new. You need to suck it up and buy new carpet. Once this carpet is installed put carpet runners down to protact your investment.

It's Moving Sale Time!

Now is the time to have a moving sale, before you plan on moving. Getting id of the clutter in your home now will make it more inviting to potential buyers. They will be able to see themselves in the home not just see themselves cleaning this place up.

It is time for you to take a hard look at what you own. Do you really need that Elvis lamp? Is the fondue pot in your basement ever going to be used? Take stock of what you have and get it out of there. If you are one of those people who just can't deal with doing the garage sale thing then call Goodwill, Salvation Army, or Volunteers of America. Giving the stuff away before you list the house will make a world of difference.

Two Words: Curb Appeal

Keep your yard manicured, buy some plans to update the landscaping, be one with mulch. You really need to make your house look amazing from the outside in order for anyone to venture on inside.

If you can aford to hire landscapers, do it, if not there are a lot of do it yourself books on landscaping that can really help! Go to the library today.

Analyze The Market

Your realtor is likely to give you report after report of what houses such as yours are selling for. She will suggest what she thinks is a fair price. Take that price and knock ten thousand or more off. Why? If you have the best priced house in the market yours will get the most traffic. The more people look at your house the more likely you will be to find a buyer fast!

If you have followed all of these tips it is time to get that house on the market and get rid of it! You can do it! Best of luck!