We hope you find these Home Selling Tips useful. 

  Outside Appearance
       How cluttered is your driveway?
      How cluttered is your garage?
      Condition of front and back lawns?
      Condition of fence if applicable?
      Condition of sheds?
      Condition of Garage door?
      Appearance of entryway?
      Overall appearance of outside?
      Curb appeal!!!

  Inside Appearance

      Do all the appliances, doors, and windows work?
      How cluttered are main rooms?
      How personal is your home?
      Overall appearance of inside?
    
  Showing your house

      Single showing
      Open House
    
  Advertising your home (This is where we come in)

      Print Advertising
      Online Advertising

  Negotiating a sale

      Price (Too high?)
      Fair Market Value  

  Outside Appearance

  How cluttered is your driveway?

      Move all automobiles out of the driveway and into the street.
      Try to keep the garage empty as well.
      Remove all garbage cans or miscellaneous items such as tools, bikes, barbecues, and children's toys from the driveway.

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  How cluttered is your garage?

      Try to pack any miscellaneous items. The less cluttered a room is, the more spacious it seems.

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Condition of front and back lawns?

      Mow both front and back lawns, no later than two days before showing the house. This will ensure that it will be presented in a meticulous manner.
      Trim the bushes or trees to complement both the lawn and the house.
      Remove any miscellaneous items from the lawn or the deck. This will present both in spacious manner.

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Condition of fence if applicable?

      If you have a fence, make sure there are no broken boards. If wood is old and worn, give it a fresh coat of paint or finish.

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Condition of sheds?

      Clean up any storage facilities or utility sheds.

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Condition of garage door?

      Check the paint on the garage door. If paint is chipping, add a fresh coat of paint.

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Appearance of entryway?

      Next to curb appeal, this is the 2nd most important tip. Entryways set the prospective buyers first impression.
Repaint the front door, if necessary. A newly painted front door can really spruce up the entire look of the outside of the house.

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What is the overall outside appearance of the house look like?

      Fix all window panes.
      Repair or replace any broken or missing roof shingles.
      If the trim around house is worn, apply a fresh coat of paint.

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Curb appeal...

      This is the single most important tip to selling your home. The majority of buyers base there impression of your home from the way it looks on the outside. The way your home looks on the outside gives prospective buyers an indication on what it might look like on the inside.

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  Inside Appearance

Do all the appliances, windows, and doors work properly?

      Check to make sure the water heater, furnace, thermostat, dishwasher, refrigerator, toilet, sink, and washer and dryer are functioning properly. A broken appliance can create the illusion to the buyer that the house is a fixer upper.
      Check all plumbing lines for leaking pipes.
      Check circuit box for broken circuit breakers.
      Open windows to make sure they raise and shut in a smooth manner. Also, make sure the windows have their screens properly attached.
      Open and shut doors/turn door handles to make sure they operate in a smooth manner.

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How cluttered are main rooms?

      Vacuum or have rugs cleaned. The rug will most likely be the first thing the buyer looks at when entering the home.
      Clean all rooms and closets, remove all unnecessary furniture. This will give your house a more spacious look.
      Make all beds to add a nice touch to the clean rooms.
      Open all blinds and drapes to let in as much light as possible.
      Turn on all lights to brighten rooms and replace all burnt out bulbs. The lights will complement the natural sunlight making the house look well lit.
      Check all walls and ceilings for flaws such as holes, water damage, or chipping paint. 
      Remove trash to prevent any unwanted smells.
      Wash all dirty dishes to avoid unpleasant smells and unclean appearances.

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How personal is your home?

      Every item you remove from the room will make it appear larger. Try boxing up some of your knick knacks. You will be packing anyway, so why not start now and add space to your rooms. If you have family pictures in your home, either on the walls or tabletops, remove them. It is easier for a buyer to envision living in the home without your pictures on display. Remember, buyers buy on emotions and rationalize their decision later. You want them to visualize it as their home, not yours.

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Overall appearance of inside?

      Doors and Windows

     -- Consider adding a fresh coat of paint to your front door.
     -- Polish brass fixtures and be sure door locks work properly.
     -- Oil hinges to both doors and windows.
     -- Keep stairways tidy and secure handrail.
     -- Repair or replace bent or damaged screens and window glass.
     -- Cut back outdoor plants that restrict natural light.
     -- Keep windows clean and tidy with draperies firmly affixed and in proper working order.

      Floors and Carpets

     -- Repair or replace missing or damaged tile, hardwood, vinyl, and baseboards.
     -- Steam clean or shampoo carpets.
     -- Secure loose carpeting and replace damaged areas.
     -- Be conscious of odors caused by dampness, high-traffic areas, or pets.

      Closets and Storage Areas

     -- Ample storage space increases the desirability of the home.
     -- Keep closets tidy.
     -- Discard any unnecessary items and consider storing those you do not use frequently.

      Bedrooms and Living Areas

     -- Keep living areas clean and inviting.
     -- Arrange furniture to allow a spacious atmosphere.
     -- Make beds, arrange couch cushions, dust shelves, vacuum carpets, and touch-up walls with paint or spackling as necessary.
     -- Wallpaper should be clean and adhere smoothly to the walls.
     -- Finishing touches such as flowers or candles add to the home's appeal.

      Kitchens and Bathrooms

     -- Clear counters, drawers and cabinets of unnecessary items.
     -- Clean soap dishes, mirrors, faucets and appliances (inside and out).
     -- Store cleaning supplies and hang freshly washed towels.
     -- Be aware of and eliminate odors caused by dampness and hampers.

      Counters and Cabinets

     -- Store infrequently used counter-top items to allow a spacious look in the kitchen and bathroom.
     -- Keep drawers and cabinets tidy and organized.

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  Showing your house

For Single Showings

      The day before a showing, call to confirm the scheduled time.
      Greet the prospective buyers at the front door with a smile.
      Remember to never smother the potential buyers. This includes standing right next to them, dominating the conversation, or overselling the house. These types of behaviors can turn a buyer off to the home. Be courteous and give them some space.
      Answer all of the prospects' questions with honesty; and when you don't know the answer to a question, assure them that you will find it and get back to them as soon as possible.
      Most important, be polite and thank them for taking the time to come to see your home.

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For Open Houses

      Select a date for the open house, preferably on a Saturday or Sunday, that is convenient for your work schedule or anyone else who is going to help you.
      Place an ad in the local paper announcing your open house. This will increase the amount of potential buyers that will show up on the day.
      Put open house signs around the neighborhood and one in the front lawn.
      As the possible buyers show up, greet them at the door, point out some of the home's finer features, and let them know you will be available for any questions. 
      After you have made your most important points, let the guest wander through the house. Do not be overbearing! By giving them some space, their comfort level will increase.
      Is the temperature of the house too hot or cold? Bring the house to room temperature to ensure comfort.
Again, thank the guest for taking the time to come to see your home.

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  Advertising your home (This is where we come in)

Print Advertising

      The most commonly used method of print advertising is your local newspaper. Although sometimes expensive, this is where most buyers start their search. The first determination to make is when you will advertise. In every community there seems to be a preferred day, and it will be obvious which days the Realtors have selected. Real estate offices track their calls closely and focus their advertising dollars on the most productive days only. Follow their lead and benefit from the research they have already done.

      An example of a poorly written ad:

2 bedroom, 1 bath, 2 story home on small lot with single garage in downtown area. $124,900 Call: 123-4567
If you were a buyer, you wouldn't call if you wanted 3 bedrooms or 2 baths or a single story or a large lot or a double garage or a large lot or outside of town. The above ad is wasted money!

      An example of a well written ad:

Owner loved home in move-in condition on manicured lot with garage in good area. $124,900 Call: 123-4567
If you were a buyer, wouldn't you call to learn more? I guarantee you will get twice as many calls on the second ad compared to the first one. Now you know the secret of why Realtors never put addresses in their ads.

Online Advertising

      The Internet is changing the way people shop for a home. In a recent study by NPD Group and Media Metrix, real estate web site hits increased 75% this summer! Thirty percent of consumers who access the Internet are currently in the market for a home. Of these, 49% use the Internet to search for a home. Seventy-four percent look for homes, 10% land, 10% condominiums, 1% co-op, 1% commercial, and 5% other. The average price they are searching for is $139,400. Almost one-fifth (18%) are searching for properties over $200,000! Over 72% gather information online before talking to a Realtor. Photos are extremely important to nearly all consumers (92%); however, only 40% are satisfied with this feature. Your marketing campaign must include some form of Internet marketing. As in any type of advertising, the more exposure you provide the better the chance that a prospective buyer will discover your home. In February of 2001, the words "real estate" ranked 9th in popularity in the Top 500 search words survey, and overall, there are more real estate web sites than any other category. Your goals in selecting a web site to represent your property should include:
      Major search engine presence.
      Geographic visitor audience (by location).
      A detailed description of your property.
      Quality color pictures.
      Easy to use contact information.
      Valuable content bringing visitors back frequently.
      Reasonable posting fees.
      Excellent service.
      Printed Flyers

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  Negotiating a sale

Price (Too high?) 

      To find out if the price your are asking is to high, first you need to get a Fair Market Value for your home. If you overprice your home, you will only make your competition look like a good buy. Don't help to sell your neighbor's house! Remember, you cannot control your competition, but you need be aware of it and price your home accordingly.

  Fair Market Value

      There are 3 ways to obtain a Fair Market Value for your home.
      #1 Do the research: The key is to locate the most similar properties, and of these, select homes as close in location as possible. Sometimes this will be a compromise between similarity and proximity. Look in the Newspaper and Real Estate Publications; then acquire the addresses and drive by these homes taking notes and pictures. This will give you a pretty good idea of homes similar to yours that are for sale. 
      #2 Have a Realtor do a FREE Comparative Market Analysis (CMA): This report will list similar properties that are For Sale, In Escrow, Expired and Sold. A properly prepared CMA will list a minimum of three properties in each category. The report is everything mentioned above but will be more accurate because Realtors have access to the information through their Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Realtors will prepare your report for free, hoping to list your property. A CMA can be completed by a Realtor in a couple of hours and should include a recommended listing and an expected selling price. 
When you make contact with the agent, be honest and explain that you wish to try and sell your home yourself and you would like to know what it is worth. A caring agent will be happy to invest a few hours assisting you in determining the value of your property. 
      #3 Hire an Appraiser: In the past, anyone could call themselves an appraiser and charge a fee for their services. However, most states now require appraisers to pass a state-administered exam. My suggestion is to contact your local title companies and lenders to ask whom they would recommend. Lender recommendations are important because your buyer will probably need to order an appraisal as a condition of a new loan and you want to hire one that the lender will honor. There is a high chance you can recover 100% of the cost of your appraisal. In my area a typical residential appraisal is $450.00 and can take as long as a month to complete. A completed appraisal can have significant value to your purchaser. The buyer will have confidence in the price they are paying, they are also assured the home will qualify for the loan and most appraisers will even mention inspections or repairs needed. Offer to sell your appraisal to the buyer at 100% of the cost or whatever you can negotiate. Having a pre-ordered appraisal is a good decision and should save you time and money.

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Home Selling Tips, Tips to sell your home, Selling Your Home, Selling Tips, How to sell your home