Successfully Sell Your Home in 2011

“Still, for the committed seller willing to do some prep work and come to terms with the current value of his or her home, locking in a buyer isn’t impossible.

By listing in early January, you might be able to catch some of those early birds who start browsing in the winter so that they can find a new home before school starts in the fall. In fact, many buyers tend to start their searches online right after Christmas, and continue throughout January and February, he said.

If you hit the ground running and you’re a fresh listing that has done everything right, you’ve got the best shot.

Consider the following tips to give your home the best chance to get noticed — and sold — in 2011.

Get the House Ready

Most sellers know they need to declutter, paint in neutral colors and generally stage the home as best as they can to help buyers envision themselves in the home. Often, this is done on the advice of a real-estate agent or professional stager.

The closer you can get your home looking like a photo from a Pottery Barn catalog, the better off you will be. 

And make sure that your cabinets and refrigerators are cleaned out and decluttered, too. You want to have a minimum of ’stuff’ in the house. The less stuff you have, the larger the closets, basement and garage will look. 

It is also recommends having a home inspection done a month before putting the home on the market to identify any major defects that need to be corrected.

Provide as Much Information as Possible

Have energy bills and a list of updates available for buyers to see.

Buyers are always curious what the utility bills are, how old the roof is, how many layers it has, how old the major mechanicals are and when that addition was added. The more information you can provide on the house, the better.

Consider providing a floor plan with listings as well. That way the prospective buyers don’t have to keep making return visits to determine how their furniture will fit in the space — they’ll have the dimensions in hand.

Make It Easy to Show

The more available you can make your home for showings, the better.,ake it easy for your real-estate agent to access the property and keep the place clean.

You want your home to be easy to show because you don’t know if you will get a second chance. 

Trust me, the buyer wants to like your house. Keep it in show-ready condition, so they aren’t turned off by a first impression…”