Great tips for selling your house

In the last post I talked about tips for buying a home. Now I would like to focus on what you can do if you are on the other end of the deal.

1. Start by hiring a qualified agent. Make sure you are comfortable with working with the agent. You will be spending a lot of time together. Interview a few and listen to their proposals. How will they market your home to perspective buyers? How many open houses will they hold? Remember, the commission is not just money in their pockets. They have to split with the buyer's agent and their broker and also pay for all the marketing so if you are offered a lot commission rate, it could be at the expense of marketing.
   
2. A good agent will perform a walk through and make a list of items that may need to be repaired or updated to make your property more desirable. This might hurt a bit but remember, the agent is there to help you sell.
   
3. Price it to sell. What you want for your home and what the market shows it is worth may be 2 different things. One of the best ways to ensure your home is on the market long term is to overprice it in the first place. A good buyer's agent will do a CMA (comparative market analysis) for their clients and they may not be as willing to look at over priced properties.
4. Be flexible in the times that you can show your home. Keeping your home spotless may by one of the biggest pains in selling but having it ready to show at any time will ensure you can show it at any time. You never know when the right buyer will come.
   
5. Make sure you have great curb appeal. If they are turned off by the outside, you have already lost them.
6. Don't get offended by low ball offers. Instead, counter with a serious offer. You have nothing to lose after all.
7. Consider requiring potential buyers to be pre-qualified. This could save loads of headache and wasted time waiting.
   
8. Clean clean clean.
9. Remember, it will all be over soon.