All Realtors Are Not The Same!

The decision to place your home on the market can involve a number of stresses and strains. Many home sales are motivated by circumstances outside your control: Job relocation, family problems, financial issues, divorce, and more. Others are related to family issues: The need for a bigger home, a better neighborhood, schools, etc.

Whether youve lived in your home 2 years or 20, you know its not just a shelter, or even another investment. Its the place where your dreams come to life. In flower gardens and family rooms.

Backyard barbecues and home-cooked Sunday dinners. Its the place we raise our children. The nest we nudge them out of, and welcome them back to again and again.

And for some, its even our place of business.

But there comes a day when its time to move on. Time to reflect on old memories, and prepare to build new ones. Time to leave the past behind for a new future. Its no wonder why buying or selling a home is often emotionally charged and potentially overwhelming.

Thats why I created this article. Regardless of your reasons for selling, your goal is to sell your home for the most money, and in the shortest amount of time. And for the least amount of hassles and distractions.

Unfortunately, the way many sellers go about selling their home leaves them wide open to the very poblems theyre tying to avoid.

When youre getting ready to put your property on the market, there are a number of things to think about, to prepare for, and to organize. Heres a list of 7 costly pitfalls to look out for
Mistake #1: Failing to DRESS Your Property For Sale

Buyers look for HOMES, not houses. They buy homes which they FEEL they would like to live. One of the major factors in getting your home to sell quickly is very simple: MAKE IT FEEL LIKE HOME.
Most buyers select their home based on EMOTIONS. Once their decision is made to buy, they justify their purchase with LOGICAL reasons: facts and features. So, its most important to make your home appeal to all senses. Your property is NOT the only home the buyers will see. You are competing with other homes in the market, and some of them have been professionally decorated.

The Way You Live In A Home and The Way Your SELL A Home Are TWO Very Different Things When youre showcasing your home for sale, its going to look very different from the way it looks when youre living there. Here are a few tips for showcasing your home for sale:

First impressions set the tone for a buyer visit, and theyre LASTING! Approach your home in your car like any buyer would. Examine the outside as youre approaching. How does it look? Are shrubs away from the home? Oil in the driveway? How does the grass and landscaping look? Cluttered looks detract from the architecture of the home. A clean, polished landscape says your home is valuable and well maintained!

Take a look at your actual home. Is the paint fading or chipping? Is the color outdated or impersonal? How does the roof look? As you drive up to or away from your home, what do you see first?

Now go inside just like a buyer would. You want to be aware of 4 senses: smell, touch, sight, and hearing. Go through room by room and test all 4 senses. Check flooring and carpet for stains and odors.

Most importantly: Pack away all appliances, get rid of excess furniture, put away useless dishes and make your home neat and orderly. If youve ever visited a model home, youll notice its clean and uncluttered. You have to move anyway, so you might as well pack early, and make your home more saleable. Go to the garage and make sure its neat.

Hire someone to professionally clean your home. Top to bottom! Cleaning and cosmetic fix-ups, especially in the Kitchen, bathrooms, and master bedroom can many times yield you up to $10 in extra sales price for every $1 you invest.

Pets should be out of sight (and smell!). Get rid of pet odors for showings. Remember the 4 senses. Also, some people are uneasy around pets, and they may distract attention from the features of your home.

Pay particular attention to lighting. During the day, open all your blinds and curtains. If its cloudy out, turn on all lights for showings. At dusk, leave your front drapes open and turn on all the lamps and lights.

At night, do the same, but close your blinds and curtains. When showing your home, turn off all appliances, television, radio, and anything that will distract attention from your home. You might want to play a little light music to enhance the emotional experience for your buyer.

Selling Your Home Can Expose You To A Number Of Potentially Costly Problems. I hope this Guide helps you to avoid these problems, And get your home sold for every bit of its worth in the least amount of time.

About the Author:

Christine began her Real Estate career proving herself to be a top producer on a new high rise development. This experience gave her valuable knowledge of construction as well as the buying process and resulted in 4-million dollars in sales her first year. http://www.realestate.pn