| You're going to sell your home. You could go at it | | | | will be more interested in these special incentives. |
| bald-headed, or think for a bit. Imagine you were | | | | 7 - Never apologise for your home. |
| a potential buyer; what would be foremost in | | | | Your home is what it is. You should not apologise |
| your mind? | | | | for that. By apologising, you give the buyer a |
| Here are some simple and inexpensive ways to | | | | reason to consider another home. If you are not |
| get the best price possible: | | | | proud of your home why would they want to be? |
| 1 - Determine the fair market value for your | | | | If your home has problems, then offer solutions. |
| house. | | | | Never apologise for what is yours. |
| The best way to sell your home is by having the | | | | 8 - Work with your agent, not against them. |
| right price. Buyers will be looking for a deal. You | | | | Help your real estate agent to sell your home. |
| might be looking to make some money but don't | | | | Give them the information they need and step |
| over-price your home. Doing so will ensure you | | | | back. Don't go behind their back and try to sell |
| don't sell it right away. A home that sits on the | | | | your home. All showings should go through the |
| market too long is unappealing. This makes people | | | | agent. They have the experience to get the job |
| afraid to buy it. | | | | done. If they didn't you would not have hired |
| 2 - The front of the house is where the first | | | | them. |
| impression starts. | | | | 9 - Only show by appointment. |
| If you want to sell your home, make the front | | | | If you want to see serious buyers you should |
| look perfect. Start with the outside. Lawns should | | | | have them screened. Many sellers only allow |
| be well mown and landscaped. There should be | | | | showings to pre-qualified buyers. Your agent can |
| nothing to distract the eye from its best features. | | | | set this up. They will weed out the dilettantes. If a |
| Tidy, clean, uniform and pretty should be your | | | | buyer shows up without an appointment, give |
| watchwords. The first look will sway buyers | | | | them your agent's card. Have them set one up. |
| towards or away from your home. | | | | 10 - Sell before you need to. |
| 3 - Remove your personal items. | | | | No one can give you a definite time frame to sell |
| Most lived-in homes have pictures and items of | | | | your home. You should put it up for sale before |
| sentimental value. Remove them when the home | | | | you plan to move. Putting the home up for sale |
| is being shown. Buyers don't want to be attached | | | | three to six months before you plan to move |
| to your memories. They will want to see the | | | | gives you leeway. Once you have a serious offer |
| quality of the walls, not your pictures of your | | | | you can begin looking for your new home. You |
| family or your knick-knacks. | | | | won't have to worry about trying to offload your |
| 4 - Clear out clutter. | | | | home quickly. You will get the price you deserve, |
| Every home has clutter. If you're showing your | | | | not the price you must settle for. |
| home, do your best to remove yours. Remove | | | | 11 - Advertise. |
| anything you don't need. Pre-pack and place the | | | | This should be your realtor's job. He should have |
| packed items in storage. Then buyers can have a | | | | an advertising plan. Find out what it is before you |
| better look into their potential property. | | | | sign a contract. Make sure your home is listed in |
| 5 - Keep colours neutral. | | | | as many places as possible. A good price won't |
| Spruce up a home before sale by painting it. Paint | | | | help sell your home if no one knows it's for sale. |
| your home in neutral colours. People will shy away | | | | 12 - Remove emotion from the sale. |
| from a home with highly coloured walls. They | | | | You have fond memories of your home. The |
| may not like your colour choices. Buyers do not | | | | buyer will not. They will notice every flaw. They |
| want to paint the minute they move in. Most look | | | | will not care about your reason for selling. They |
| for colours they can live with or mould around | | | | will care about making a deal. Make sure when |
| their decorations. | | | | you look at offers you do so rationally. Don't let |
| 6 - Keep your kitchens and bathrooms in good | | | | emotions rule your sale. |
| shape. | | | | In your mind, have already kissed your house |
| Homebuyers pay special attention to these two | | | | goodbye, and take your wonderful memories with |
| rooms. They must be spotless. Keep the rooms | | | | you. This will make the sale easier. In the end, |
| well lit. If you have newer appliances and plan to | | | | realise that a house is a material thing, and that all |
| leave them, have buyers check them out. They | | | | such things are transient. |