TIPS TO HELP YOU SELL YOUR HOME  

• You only have one chance to make a first impression.  It is important to make sure it is a favorable one. 
• You'll never have more activity on the home than you will in the first three to four weeks of the listing.  This is because there are buyers out there who have seen everything available and have not bought.  They are ready to buy and are waiting for that "right" home to come on the market. 

• When that new property hits the market, buyers and agents both will scramble to look at it.  It is common knowledge that the property will usually sell for the highest price during this time period. 
• Pricing your home right is of paramount importance.  Take your first price reduction now. Don't fall in to the trap of a too high price to begin with thinking you can reduce it in a month if it hasn't sold.  It probably won't sell, so price it correctly now. 
• Make your home look and feel like a builder's model home.  This may mean storing some things until the home is sold.  You are trying to create an atmosphere that makes potential buyers want to move in. 
• Make repairs and spruce up the property before it goes on the market.  You might want to have a home inspection of the same type that a buyer would have, to discover defects that you are unaware of so you can correct them before putting your home on the market. 
• Curb appeal is most important.  Trim the landscaping, paint if necessary.  You want to give the impression of a well cared for home. 
• You are competing with every other home that is currently for sale.  Make sure it is priced competitively and shows well. 

• Typical buyers do not have much left over after down payment and closing costs to improve the home.  You can get more money for your property by replacing worn out carpeting and making necessary repairs. 
• If buyers have a choice of two comparable properties similar in price and location, they will choose the one in the best condition.  On the other hand, if two properties are similar in condition, the buyers will choose the one that is priced lower. 
• Invest in a few flats of flowers that will last the entire growing season.  They will add color and beauty to the front of your home. 
• Look at the front door and the area around it.  Give it a fresh coat of paint, dust screen doors, fix a broken doorbell & sweep the front entry.  A buyer will spend more time here while waiting for their agent to secure the key and open the door. 
• Air out your home.  You are the last person to notice any peculiar odor in your home that may be blatantly obvious to visitors.  Especially noticeable odors come from pets and smoke. 
• Wash all the windows in the house, inside and out.  While you're at it, clean the window sills and the bottom of the window jams, wash the blinds and clean any curtains or drapes. 
• Clean the carpets and wax and polish bare floors. 
• Put bright light bulbs in every socket made for a bulb.  Buyers like"bright and cheery" so you want to turn on the lights (yes - even in the daytime!) during showings.  Also keep the drapes, blinds and shades open. 
• Clean out closets, cabinets and drawers.  Get rid of things you haven't used in the past five years. Pack up seasonal items and things you haven't used in the last year.  Think of it as getting ready to move. 
• Box up off season clothing so that the closets look as if they have plenty of room to hold additional items. 
• Even though it may be inconvenient, it will be much better if you select the furniture pieces that look best and put the others in storage. 
• Go through the kitchen like a health inspector.  Clean the oven and keep it that way.  After cleaning the range put new drip pans under the burners. 
• Make sure there are no dripping faucets or leaking plumbing.  Bathroom tubs, showers and sinks should be freshly caulked. 
• Keep the children's toys out of the front yard and off the sidewalks and front entry.  Teenagers need to take down their posters until after the home is sold. 
• Clean the ashes out of the fireplace. 
• If you have a pool make sure it is sparkling clean and free of debris. 
• Get rid of all clutter such as newspapers, magazines and dirty dishes. 
• Keep your pets out of the way.  Not everyone shares your love for animals and some may even be allergic to them. 
• Remove items from the refrigerator door.  Also pack away collections and walls of photographs.  You want the buyers to look at your home and not get sidetracked by interesting photos and collections.