| You want to sell your home or maybe worse yet | | | | to fix it. Start with the repairs at the same time |
| you have to sell your home now and all you hear | | | | that you start to declutter your home. A potential |
| from everyone is how "It is not a good time to | | | | buyer will only see your stack of papers or dust |
| try and sell your home" or "No way are you going | | | | in all the window seals if it is not clean and tidy. |
| to be able to sell your home" and then the most | | | | They will never see how spacious and wonderful |
| scary statement of all is "You will have to give it | | | | your home really is. |
| away or pay someone to buy it from you." | | | | Unless you are one of those rare people that are |
| It's an understatement to say that for most of | | | | extremely neat and organized, this will take some |
| the United States the news you hear about real | | | | time, put together a plan of attack. Start with |
| estate is not good. With anything you read or | | | | one room at a time and don't move on until it is |
| hear on the news it many times is reporting the | | | | done. This can be an overwhelming process for |
| worst case scenario and blowing things out of | | | | most people as you don't realize how much stuff |
| proportion. What's worse is many times the news | | | | you have accumulated until you start going |
| actually is perpetuating the problem by keeping | | | | through it. Now might be the time to call in a |
| bad news out there longer than the problem. | | | | family member or friend to help you. It is also |
| Apparently good news doesn't sell. | | | | helpful to have someone you trust come in and |
| In any market in America people are still buying | | | | give you some advice as to how your home |
| homes. People are moving in and out of areas for | | | | might look to a new person walking in for the |
| a multitude of reasons and always will. While the | | | | first time. Don't let this hurt your feelings as this |
| numbers may be lower than in previous years | | | | could save you time and money. Do the rooms |
| there are people still selling their homes and will | | | | look overcrowded? Maybe now is the time to |
| continue to do so in good and bad markets. | | | | have that garage sale and get rid of the extra |
| The good news is that yes you can sell your | | | | furniture or furniture that looks too worn or dirty. |
| home if you are motivated to do so and will take | | | | If a garage sale sounds like too much work, |
| a few steps to maximize your chances. | | | | donate your items to a charity and take a write |
| Getting started, your first real step is to decide if | | | | off on your taxes. If you can't bear to part with |
| you truly want to sell or have to sell your home | | | | it then rent a storage room or utilize a family |
| now. Selling your home can be a chore so you | | | | members garage and pay them a little a month |
| have to be up for the task. Keeping your home | | | | to store until you sell your home. Rooms with too |
| spotless day after day and being available to | | | | much furniture will appear small. Also you might |
| show your home at a moments notice, like a | | | | want to rearrange your furniture to make sure |
| knock on your door, can be tiresome but | | | | you maximize the functionality of each room. |
| necessary. If your market area is declining and | | | | Potential buyers need to know they can fit their |
| you can wait you might want to, however it is all | | | | furniture into your home. The above step is |
| relative. Prices may continue to deteriorate and | | | | referred to more recently as "staging" your |
| you may be waiting for awhile. Also if you intend | | | | home. |
| to buy another home then you will be able to buy | | | | Now you have your home in the best condition |
| less as well. In a perfect world you would buy low | | | | it's been in for years, it probably looks so good |
| and sell high but I don't know anyone that has | | | | that you are rethinking you decision to sell it, but |
| been very successful at this. | | | | now it's time to price your home, your 4th and |
| Okay you've decided to sell your home, now you | | | | final step. If your home is not priced right, it will |
| must get prepared. A huge part of this | | | | not sell, regardless of how great it looks. Your |
| preparation leads us into the second biggest step | | | | homes selling price will be determined by what a |
| which is to throw all your emotions about your | | | | similar home in your area has recently sold for or |
| home and personal attachment to it, out. You | | | | perhaps a pending sale. This is what a realtor or |
| have to look at selling your home as a business | | | | appraiser will do to determine value. They look at |
| venture. Bottom line is you are trying to make as | | | | a competitive market analysis of homes that |
| much money as you can. This seems to be hard | | | | have sold or are on the market currently in your |
| for many people as this is the home that you | | | | neighborhood. Of course they will add or subtract |
| may have been in for years and created some | | | | value based on how your home matches up to |
| incredible memories in. These memories | | | | other homes that have sold in the last few |
| unfortunately are irrelevant when it comes to | | | | months. Appraisers and lenders alike use to look |
| selling your home. Matter of fact, you will have to | | | | at closed sales within the last 6 months to |
| make your home look less personal, take away | | | | determine value but in many areas they will only |
| the numerous family portraits, so a potential | | | | go back a few months now as values have |
| buyer can see your place as their new home. It is | | | | continued to decline in some areas. |
| not about what you like it is about what they like | | | | Whether you are selling your own home or |
| or want. | | | | working with an agent it is universally agreed that |
| Now that you are mentally prepared, your third | | | | the above steps are mandatory. There are many |
| and very critical step is to get your home in | | | | people and companies available to help you |
| order. This means you will have to repair | | | | through this process in any area, such as |
| everything that is broken and have your home in | | | | mortgage companies, title escrow companies, for |
| tip top shape. In today's market you will not | | | | sale by owner companies and of course Realtors. |
| receive an offer at all or be lowballed if there are | | | | However, you can sell your home yourself. There |
| a lot of things wrong with your home. As the | | | | is a multitude of free advice and information out |
| selling market has slowed down more and more | | | | there to help you. If you keep a positive attitude |
| homes are on the market that you will be | | | | and don't let all the negative news out there |
| competing with. Potential buyers will want to take | | | | influence you, your home will be sold in no time at |
| more off the price than it would have cost you | | | | all. |