How to get the best price when selling your home

Selling a home can be a difficult and sometimes frustrating process.  Here are a few tips to help you get the best results.

1. Put your best foot forward-You only get 1 chance for a first impression from a buyer.  If you are in a house, make sure you outside is "picture perfect".  Invest in some landscaping perhaps plant a few flowers etc.  If there is chipping or worn trim have it painted.  When someone drives up to your home, you want the house to stand out, not the overgrown garden, or rubbish. If you are in a coop and the common areas leading up to your unit are not being kept up, talk to management.   
2. Whether you are selling a house or an apartment, it's important to take a tour of your home with objective eyes.  If you see chipping paint cracks etc. it's a good investment to have someone (or yourself if you are handy) give it a fresh coat.  If your paint scheme is less than mainstream (i.e. if you are using all the colors of the rainbow) consider using a light, neutral paint to make your home more fresh and help the rooms seem larger.  If you have a lot of clutter consider putting some things in storage.  Clutter makes your home seem smaller and claustrophobic.  Take a look at your bathroom.  If you have mildew, invest in a strong mildew remover with bleach.  Caulk tubs where needed, and grout the tiles for a fresher look.  Use brighter bulbs throughout your home and make sure to replace blown bulbs.  If you have a basement, make sure the bulbs work.  
3. The Price is Right- Pricing your home can be a tricky thing.  In my experience, most sellers think their home is worth more than it is.  Consider what other properties are on the market, or have sold.  Think objectively why you home would be worth more or less than the others, and use that to arrive at a price.  Selling a home can be very inconvenient at times and quite emotional.  You don't want to prolong your experience just to arrive at the same result.  I've seen some homeowners on the market for well over a year because they refuse to see the truth.  Ultimately if you don't think you can get your price you have 2 choices.  Lower your price, or take you home off the market and wait for the market to increase.  Keeping yourself on the market in the hopes of a mythical buyer who doesn't know better is a thing of the past.  Most buyers are very savvy as to what's going on in the market because of the information available on the Internet.4.  Consider using a Realtor.  Many sellers think that they will pocket the brokerage fee and make more money in the sale of their home.  Statistically this is not accurate.  According to the National Association of Realtors, FSBOs accounted for 10% of home sales in 2011. The typical FSBO home sold for $150,000 compared to $215,000 for agent-assisted home sales (Source: Realtor.Org).  Aside from that a Realtor can do a comparative market analyses (CMA) which will show you what other property is selling for in your neighborhood.  Finally the Realtor will take the expense of advertising, plus putting it on Multiple Listing will get you National Exposure.

If you would like some more ideas to help you sell, contact me and I will be happy to send you my guide to selling. I'd be happy to meet with you and help you through the process.