Here is a great article I came across that I wanted to share. (Article) If you don't have time to read it, the quick version is this. The list of 10 ways to help sell your home faster (and for as much as the market will bare).
1. Finish the "Honey do" list. All those things you'll say you'll get to when you have time, do them. Whether it be just a touch up of paint here and there, fixing a door so it shuts properly, it makes a world of a difference.
2. Get inspected. Buyers are going to generally put an inspection contingency in their offer, and many times after the inspection ask to re-negotiate based on the results of it. Imagine if you have an inspection before listing it, so you can beat them to the punch. Buyers won't think you're trying to hide something, and might even save a step in the process.
3. Pack up Clutter. People are understanding that folks live in houses, but when buyers are looking to buy a house, they want to see themselves living in it. Not someone elses mess all over the place. The more clean and put together the house is, the better the buyer feels about it.
4. Depersonalize and Neutralize. You may love your shag carpets, or that sculpture of David in your living room, but the buyer may not. Make it as neutral as possible.
5. Clean like a Fiend. You may be okay with a little mildew built up in your shower. Or a little grime around the faucets. Buyers won't be. Doesn't take much, just go around the house and clean it thoroughly.
6. Stage Rooms. Ever walk in a furniture show room, where they set up mock rooms, and you just loved the way it look. Well set up your home like that, and the buyers will love it too.
7. Tend to Floors. Clean carpets, mop floors, if the carpet is ripped or in tatters, take it away.
8. Kick up the Curb appeal. Before buyers even arrive at the house, they've already made a decision that they WANT to see the house. When they pull up to it, you want them to have the desire continue to grow and manifest itself. You don't want to kill it with overgrown grass, overgrown plants, doors and windows not in good shape etc.
9. Pick the Right publicist. Your Realtor should be a great publicist for you. Your Realtor is the spokesperson for the house, so you want them to be in love with the property. They should know all the little nuances of your neighborhood and home. And more then knowing, be able to articulate that to the public.
10. Set the Right Price. The market ultimately determines the price. Understand that a Realtor makes more money, if you make more money. They don't make any money, or probably even lose money if you don't sell your home. A good realtor won't waste their time, "testing the market" with an overpriced number. Pick a number that's competitive, and then depending on how the market responds to it, adjust accordingly.
