How To Sell Your Home For The Most Money

Below are a couple tips to help you sell your home in this current real estate market, in the fastest time frame possible and for the most money possible.

Tip #1 - Set your price right ... at the very start

Many Home Sellers think they can start by advertising their home at a higher price hoping that a Buyer will take them up on their offer, with the thought that if no offers come in to them right away, they can always drop their asking price.

While this is true, it does nothing to help the Seller in the long run, in this current declining market.  For a couple of reasons:  If you are in a hurry to get your home sold, this tactic won't always get you moving as quickly as you may like or need; the longer a home "sits on the market" with a For Sale sign on it, the more wary Buyers become thinking that there must be something wrong with the home thus causing it to not sell;  and some Sellers using this strategy, have been caught in a downward spiral of "chasing the market down".  In other words, they set their asking price at the very top of what the current market can afford in the beginning of their selling process, only to find that homes priced lower around them are selling thus forcing Sellers to drop their prices after months of sitting on the market ... sometimes with multiple price drops over a matter of a year or longer.  (Read my Article HERE of a $161,000 price drop)

Tip #2 - Make your home look as clutter free and as pleasing as possible to the largest possible number of Buyers
In other words, remove all the family photos or kids art work from the walls and fridge so buyers won't be distracted from looking at the home.  Re-paint rooms that are wild in color ... your bright orange or blood red walls may fit perfectly with your furniture and personality, but some Buyers can be put off by such colors and can be put off at the thought of having to re-paint dark walls, or pull down wall paper, at the Close of Escrow.  And try to remove as many belongings as possible from rooms, closets and cupboards.  Removing furniture from rooms will make every room look and feel larger to prospective Buyers, and removing belongings from cupboards and closets will do the same.    Many Buyers aren't able to imagine rooms without your furniture in it ... so make it easy on them, and physically remove stuff for them.

Tip #3 - Offer incentives or perks to Buyers

Offer to pay for the gardener to continue on for 3 months after the Buyer moves in.  Offer to pay for 3 months, or 6 months, or more of HOA fees for the new Buyer.    Or offer to pay for new carpeting or new interior paint at the Close of Escrow so a Buyer will get the opportunity to choose their own color of carpet or paint.  Any little "perk" will help a buyer feel like they are getting the best value by buying YOUR home versus going down the street to the competing Home for Sale and can help you get a higher SOLD price.

For more thoughts on how to get your home SOLD FAST and at top dollar, contact me for a free market analysis along with tips on what your home may need to look its best in the eyes of a Buyer:
LeeAnn Bell, 661-309-2364 or
LeeAnnRealtor@yahoo.com

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(C) 2011 LeeAnn Bell, REALTOR(R)
DRE License #01260650