Homeseller 911
By Melanie Chambers • Bankrate.com
And don't fall into this trap when pricing your home: don't sell the home based on what you feel it's worth, but rather on what the market says it's worth. If a family has lived in one home all their lives, they understandably place a high value on the home's sentimental value -- but a homebuyer won't pay $10,000 extra for your warm, fuzzy memories.
Agent issues
A good agent will price your home accordingly, but a good agent should do more than that. Fortais was impressed with his agent's tenacity. Included in his fee, the agent posted the house on his web site and also included a virtual tour so people can see for themselves what it looks like.
The agent also increased the number of open houses from one every three weeks to two every weekend. And to make sure they get lots of traffic, the agent is advertising the open houses in the homes section of the local newspaper.
If your agent isn't willing to go the distance and you aren't working as a team to sell your house, you may want to switch agents. For more information on switching agents, check out Bankrate.ca's story Breaking up is hard to do.
Home staging
A good agent can help, but he can only work with what he has. If your home needs some updating, consider hiring a staging company. These companies can offer up suggestions on how to move your furniture and make the home more presentable.
But be prepared to pay: a consultation alone can cost $300. If you want more work, such as painting and minor renovations, the cost starts at $600. For more information, check out Bankrate.ca's story Dress up your house for a successful sale.
Again, depending on where you live, staging may not be an issue. "Most people on the east coast are not living a lavish lifestyle -- they live in modest homes and they'll have to work with what they have," says Simmons. With that in mind, he says common sense can go a long way.
Tidiness goes a long way
Simmons's practical advice is obvious but effective: "I always tell people that a clean house will get you 10 to 15 percent more than a dirty house."
And don't forget about the incidentals that may lead someone to think the home isn't worthy. Ensure there are no leaky facets and clean out the cabinets and closet space -- people may assume the house doesn't have enough storage if the closets are overflowing.
Before people even step foot in the house, start with the exterior. Curb appeal is important, so make sure the lawn is well-kept, and plant some brightly coloured flowers. And don't forget about the front door. "If the paint is peeling off the door that's not a very good first impression," says Lightbown.
"Before people go into the house, they have already made an opinion." So, give the door a fresh coat of paint and maybe even a decorative wreath. And before prospective homebuyers pass through, light a candle -- nothing too overpowering -- that invites them to relax and linger.
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