OK – this one is for all you sellers out there, especially those folks who are new to the real estate game.  What does it take to sell your home fast…and for top dollar?  First, it is generall said that every house will sell at a certain price.  Unfortunately, that price may not always be aligned with the seller’s expectations or hopes.  There are a lot of factors that contribute to the final sales price – some you can control and some you can’t.

What you can’t control…

• The market – sometimes you can do everything right but you still can’t sell the house for what you believe is a reasonable price.  So make sure you manage your own expectations (see below).
• Timing and luck – So you missed the perfect buyer who just bought down the street.  It turns out he tried to visit your house but you had company in town so you had to decline the showing.  There are close calls in real estate – sometimes you get lucky and sometimes you don’t.

What you can control…

• A clean house! – You house has to be as close to spotless as possible.  If necessary, spend an entire day before you put the house on the market and scrub down the whole place.  Or, hire a maid for $150…it will be money well spent.  You may have a serious buyer come to see the house the first day on the market so do NOT delay the deep cleaning.
• De-clutter – it has to be said that less is generally more.
• Stage the house – This goes with de-cluttering but can be critical.  If you don’t want to pay a professional staging company (I don’t) then have some good friends and family members come over and give their honest opinions.  Don’t take it personally!
• Accommodate all showings – Yes, it can be a pain but you never know which looker will be you buyer.
• Find a great realtor – Studies show that homes sold with a realtor sell for 10%+ more than homes sold by owners.
• Be reasonable and manage your own expectations – your realtor can help with this but you have to be realistic.  If your house isn’t selling, it might be priced too high.  No one wants to hear this but sellers often have unrealistic expectations, especially in a down market.

If you want to sell fast, be willing to compromise on price and understand the realities of the marketplace.

Happy buying and selling!

MR