Unless you are selling your house as a fixer-upper, you should take a good look at the condition it is in prior to listing it for sale. If the condition of your home is not where buyers expect it to be, they will mentally reduce the price due to the needed repairs. At a minimum, the exterior and landscaping must look presentable (curb appeal). You also need to prepare the inside of the house. At the very least obvious repairs should be made, carpets cleaned and color schemes neutralized, etc. Put yourself in the buyer’s place, walk through your home and make a list of the things that negatively catch your eye.

The aesthetic look of your home is an important part of market preparation. De-cluttering, organizing and cleaning your home goes a long way. There is nothing worse than showing a messy and dingy house in obvious disrepair. This can affect the sale of your home and will drive most buyers away. You should also de-personalize your home. Do not have too many items on flat surfaces, walls, etc. Rearrange and/or eliminate furniture to create flow and more space throughout the house. When selling a home less is more.

Before listing your home for sale, it is important to find out the value of the property. A real estate agent can prepare a comparative market analysis (CMA) for you. A CMA shows the prices of recently sold homes that are comparable to yours and the prices of comparable homes on the market. This will give you a good idea of what your home would be worth, given its size and condition and local market conditions. You can also purchase a professional appraisal. To get a CMA, click here.

As real estate agents, we want you to receive top dollar for your property however, it is important not
to overprice your home. Many homeowners price their homes based on the amount they paid for the property and the profit they want to make. When pricing your property a number of things should be considered starting with its value, which depends on current market conditions, recent comparable sales and the condition of your property, etc.

If your home is not vacant, it is very important to be flexible when it comes to showing your property to prospective buyers. Homes that don’t get shown don’t get sold. If it is difficult for buyers and agents to view your property, they will likely just cross your place off their list and move on to other properties. Allowing a supra lockbox to be placed on your property will give agents more opportunities to show your home. This type of lockbox keeps track of everyone who views your property and only agents have access.