Selling a Home Tips,

As a homeowner, you play an important part in the timely sale of your property.  The following home selling tips will help you and your real estate agent sell your home faster at the best possible price.

Make the most of that first impression with curb appeal,
A well manicured lawn, neatly trimmed shrubs and a clutter free porch welcomes home buyers.  So does a freshly painted, or at least a freshly cleaned front door.  If it is autumn, rake the leaves. if it is winter shovel the walkways.  The fewer obstacles between home buyers and the true appeal of your home, the better.

Invest a few hours for future dividends,
Here's your chance to clean up in real estate.  Clean up the living room, the bathroom, the kitchen.  If your woodwork is scuffed or the paint is fading, consider some minor redecoration.  Fresh neutral (earth tone) adds charm and value to your property.  Home buyers would rather see how great your house really looks rather than hearing how great it could look, "with a little work".

Check faucets and light bulbs,
Dripping water rattles the nerves, discolors sinks and suggests faulty or worn out plumbing.  Burned out light bulbs leave home buyers in the dark.  Don't let little problems distract from what's right with your home.

Don't shut out a home sale,
If cabinets or closet doors stick in your home, you can be sure they will also stick in a home buyers memory.  Don't try to explain away sticky situations when you can easily repair them.  A little effort on your part can smooth the way to a successful closing.

Safety is important,
Homeowners learn to live with all kinds of self-set booby traps:  shoes on the stairs, extension cords, slippery area rugs, low hanging light fixtures are just a few of the common hazards.  Make your residence as non-perilous as possible for un-initiated visitors.

Make room for space,
Remember, potential home buyers are looking for more than just comfortable living space.  They're looking for storage space also.  Make sure your attic, basement and yes the garage are clean and free of unnecessary items, "start packing".

Consider your closets,
The better organized a closet, the larger it appears.  Now is the time to box up those unwanted clothes and donate them to charity, you will rather do it sooner than later "$".

Make your bathroom sparkle,
Bathrooms sell homes, so let them shine.  Check and repair damaged or unsightly caulking in the the tub and shower area.  For added allure, display your best towels, mats and shower curtains.

Create dream bedrooms,
Wake up home buyers to the cozy comforts of your bedrooms. For a spacious look, get rid of excess furniture.  Colorful bedspreads and fresh curtains are a must.

Open up in the daytime,
Let the sun shine in!  Pull back your curtains and drapes so home buyers can see how bright and cheerful your home is.

Light up the night,
Turn on the excitement by turning on all your lights - both inside and outside, when showing your home in the evening / dusk.  Lights are colorful and adds warmth to a chilly night, not to mention the safety issue also.

Avoid crowds,
Home buyers often feel like intruders when they enter a home filled with people (one is too many including the pets).  Rather than giving your house the attention it deserves, they rush the appointment and they are gone!

Watch your pets,
Dogs and cats are great companions, but not when you're showing your home.  Pets have a talent for getting underfoot and speaking out of turn.  So do yourself a favor: Keep Kitty and Spot with you when you leave the home for your showing / selling appointment.

Background music,
Rock and roll may never die, but it will kill a real estate transaction.  When it's time to show your home, put on background music preferably the kind with no vocals (piano works best as it is neutral), keep the volume low so the home buyers and their real estate agent can converse "inside" the home.

Relax let the Pro's do their job,
Be friendly as you greet them at their arrival as you and your pets are leaving for the showing.  Don't try to force a conversation, as the home buyers are generally nervous at this point since they feel like intruders.  We all know the owner knows their home better than anyone, However if the owner tries to explain or show the house, home buyers feel like they are being sold or corned into viewing the home.

Don't apologize,
No matter how humble your abode; never apologize for it's shortcomings.  If a home buyer volunteers a derogatory comment about your home's appearance, let your experienced real estate agent handle the situation.  Not all homes are a perfect fit for everybody's needs and tastes.

Keep a low profile,
Nobody knows your home as well as you do.  But the real estate agent that is working with the buyer knows them better than you.  Real estate agents have an easier time articulating the virtues of your home if you are not underfoot.  Some owners cannot leave the home for showings, if this is the case, upon arrival of the home buyers - the owner should grab a book or newspaper and sit in the yard, porch (if room) or somewhere away from all the traffic as the showings typically have 3-5 people arrive for the showing and it gets crowed fast.

Don't turn your home into a second hand store,
When home buyers come to view your home, don't distract them with offers to sell those furnishings you no longer wish to own.  You will lose the biggest sale of all.  Some owners leave post-it stickers, notes, billboards etc throughout the home, this is not acceptable either, we are selling your home the rest can follow at a later time.

Defer to experience,
When home buyers want to talk price, terms or other real estate matters, let them speak to your real estate expert.  Some home buyers will ask questions to be polite or just to see how desperate or low you will go on the price, and you as the home owner have no information on the buyer and is now are at a disadvantage if the questions are answered too haste tally or disclosed "too much information".

Help your real estate agent,
Your real estate agent will have an easier time selling your home if showings are scheduled through the realtors office.  Scheduling showings without their knowledge creates chaos, how embarrassing, disorganized will it be if multiple buyers, agents and everyone's entourage show up at the same time, maybe that perfect home buyer was in that crowd that high tailed it out of your home.