Secrets of successful sellers

While there is no definite, absolute rule to sell your property, here are some tried-and-true practices that may make the difference between a property languishing on the market and selling efficiently.

Choose the right agent for you. Ask friends and family for referrals. Narrow down your list of potential agents and choose one who has knowledge of your neighborhood and a history of following up with their clients.
Be realistic. When it comes to pricing your home, work with your agent to decide on an accurate and fair price. Comparables in the area, coupled with your agent's experience, are helpful when listing.
Spic and span. Your home should be in pristine condition when potential buyers view your home. Buyers should be focused on your beautiful windows, not the fingerprints on the glass. If necessary, shampoo carpets and refinish the wood floors.
Eliminate the excess. Remove any furniture that is unnecessary. Consider storing furniture that clutters a room. Oversized items may make a space feel smaller than it actually is.
Take yourself out of it. Store or swap out any family pictures. This is a great opportunity to showcase the property in other seasons. If your open house is in the winter, perhaps frame pictures of the backyard or façade of the home in full bloom.
Quick fix. Before showing your home, complete all those home fixes you've been meaning to get to. The squeaky step or floorboard, the grout in the bathroom or leaky faucets should all be repaired before potential buyers notice them.

How to stage your home

In a buyer’s market, sellers need every advantage they can get. Home staging is an excellent way to highlight your property’s strengths. You can hire professional home stagers, or use the following home staging tips yourself.

Here are some tips to ensure prospective buyers feel comfortable and aren’t distracted:

• depersonalize your home by removing family photos, toys, toiletries, etc.;

• when decorating, paint in neutral colors so future buyers can imagine putting their own color palettes on the walls; and

• remove excess furniture and clutter — too much furniture makes the home feel and appear small.

Buyers are looking for the most amount of house for the least amount of money. To give the impression the property is upscale and luxurious:

• clean every inch of the house;

• update all fixtures such as cabinet hardware, ceiling fans or faucets;

• improve the lighting in your house with energy efficient bulbs for a warm and inviting atmosphere, aiming for a total of 100 watts for every 50 square feet;

• mix up your lighting options with ambient (general or overhead), task (pendant, under cabinet or reading) and accent (table and wall) lights;

• complete any unfinished projects — a house with a to-do list is a quick turn off for buyers;

• purchase slip covers, bed covers and color-coordinated towels to dress up your existing furnishings; and

• decorate with fresh flowers and candles — the smell of a home during an open house is almost as important as the way it looks.

Stage The Home

Whether you are looking to conduct an Open House, or simply want to help your sellers present their house in the best light, it is necessary to view it from the eyes of a buyer! Any money spent in this area may result in increased profits and a faster sale.

Maximizing Curb Appeal

Before potential buyers even see what the home has to offer, they view its exterior. As a result, an unkempt or unattractive view of the outside of the home could potentially result in a missed opportunity. To show the house in its best light, consider the following:

Move all materials, including garbage cans and gardening supplies, from the front yard and into a garage or shed

Mow the lawn and weed and maintain all planted areas

Replace any outdoor light bulbs that are not working

Sweep walkways and steps, and remove all small items from the porch or patio

Replace worn or badly stained door mats

Once a potential buyer enters the home, they need to determine if it will meet their needs and expectations. Give them the best view of the home's interior by following these steps:

Remove the home of any clutter by limiting decorative objects and clearing all unnecessary appliances from the kitchen countertops

Rearrange or remove furniture to highlight the space in a room

Review each room and clean or vacuum if necessary

7 Tips to Guide for Your Home Search

1. Research before you look. Decide what features you most want to have in a home, what neighborhoods you prefer, and how much you’d be willing to spend each month for housing.

2. Be realistic. It’s OK to be picky, but don’t be unrealistic with your expectations. There’s no such thing as a perfect home. Use your list of priorities as a guide to evaluate each property.

3. Get your finances in order. Review your credit report and be sure you have enough money to cover your down payment and closing costs. Then, talk to a lender and get pre-qualified for a mortgage. This will save you the heartache later of falling in love with a house you can’t afford.

4. Don’t ask too many people for opinions. It will drive you crazy. Select one or two people to turn to if you feel you need a second opinion, but be ready to make the final decision on your own.

5. Decide your moving timeline. When is your lease up? Are you allowed to sublet? How tight is the rental market in your area? All of these factors will help you determine when you should move.

6. Think long term. Are you looking for a starter house with plans to move up in a few years, or do you hope to stay in this home for a longer period? This decision may dictate what type of home you’ll buy as well as the type of mortgage terms that will best suit you.

7. Insist on a home inspection. If possible, get a warranty from the seller to cover defects for one year.

Five Feng Shui Concepts to Help a Home Sell

To put the best face on a listing and appeal to buyers who follow Feng Shui principles, keep these tips in mind.

1. Pay special attention to the front door, which is considered the “mouth of chi” (chi is the “life force” of all things) and one of the most powerful aspects of the entire property. Abundance, blessings, opportunities, and good fortune enter through the front door. It’s also the first impression buyers have of how well the sellers have taken care of the rest of the property. Make sure the area around the front door is swept clean, free of cobwebs and clutter. Make sure all lighting is straight and properly hung. Better yet, light the path leading up to the front door to create an inviting atmosphere.

2. Chi energy can be flushed away wherever there are drains in the home. To keep the good forces of a home in, always keep the toilet seats down and close the doors to bathrooms.

3. The master bed should be in a place of honor, power, and protection, which is farthest from and facing toward the entryway of the room. It’s even better if you can place the bed diagonally in the farthest corner. Paint the room in colors that promote serenity, relaxation, and romance, such as soft tones of green, blue, and lavender.

4. The dining room symbolizes the energy and power of family togetherness. Make sure the table is clear and uncluttered during showings. Use an attractive tablecloth to enhance the look of the table while also softening sharp corners.

5. The windows are considered to be the eyes of the home. Getting the windows professionally cleaned will make the home sparkle and ensure that the view will be optimally displayed.

Source: Sell Your Home Faster With Feng Shui by Holly Ziegler (Dragon Chi Publications, 2001)

12 Tips for Hiring a Remodeling Contractor

1. Get at least three written estimates.
2. Check references. If possible, view earlier jobs the contractor completed.
3. Check with the local Chamber of Commerce or Better Business Bureau for complaints.
4. Be sure the contract states exactly what is to be done and how change orders will be handled.
5. Make as small of a down payment as possible so you won’t lose a lot if the contractor fails to complete the job.
6. Be sure that the contractor has the necessary permits, licenses, and insurance.
7. Check that the contract states when the work will be completed and what recourse you have if it isn’t. Also, remember that in many instances you can cancel a contract within three business days of signing it.
8. Ask if the contractor’s workers will do the entire job or whether subcontractors will be involved too.
9. Get the contractor to indemnify you if work does not meet any local building codes or regulations.
10. Be sure that the contract specifies the contractor will clean up after the job and be responsible for any damage.
11. Guarantee that the materials that will be used meet your specifications.
12. Don’t make the final payment until you’re satisfied with the work. 

Paint Colors That Attract Home buyers
Whether you’re ready to list your home for sale or you’re just beginning the process, there’s one crucial step to consider: paint colors. The colors you put on the walls can help make your home easier or harder to sell, so it’s well worth considering repainting before you put your property on the market.

But before you grab a roller, make sure you’re choosing colors that will help your home sell. Remember: the right colors will attract homebuyers.

Colors that attract home buyers #1 - Not-so-boring neutrals
If you’re looking for a sure bet for all ages and income brackets, you can’t go wrong with neutrals. A soft beige is an easy sell – it adds warmth to the walls and gives buyers a chance to imagine the potential of the room. If you’re still living in the home, off-white neutrals are easier to keep clean while you’re in the process of selling.

Colors that attract home buyers #2 - Shades of gray
Gray is a fantastic alternative to beige for many reasons. A cool gray feels relaxing and soothing in a bedroom or bathroom. It’s a conservative but still chic color that appeals to many people, particularly older buyers, who may be seeking relaxation, rather than excitement, in their new home.

Colors that attract home buyers #3 - Wonderful whites
Although white seems like a default color, it’s anything but. There are hundreds of shades of white to choose from, and they each have benefits. A bright white makes any space look larger, while a warm white is inviting and cozy. White is universally appealing, and works especially well with younger first-time home buyers, since they’ll easily be able to repaint in their preferred color scheme after the purchase.

Colors that attract home buyers #4 - Beautiful Blue
There’s a blue hue for everyone, but to expedite the sale, stick to lighter shades. Go light blue in the bedroom for a peaceful oasis feeling, or choose a more energetic (but still pale) blue for kids’ playrooms. Blue makes a great alternative to more neutral colors if you just can’t stomach the thought of living in a blank white or neutral home until it sells.

Colors that attract home buyers #5 - Warm brights
If you’re dead set on using orange or yellow, make sure the tone is soft enough to maintain a neutral feeling. Many buyers balk at brights, since they take extra time and energy to repaint. Sunny hues work best in kitchens and other energetic spaces. Plus, warm tones are known to make people hungry – so confine your orange paint to the kitchen.

Colors that attract home buyers #6 - Easy earth tones
Earthy, rich colors like brown and green are best avoided when you’re trying to sell. However, depending on the neighborhood, lighter browns and greens could be appealing. Country homes do well with these rustic colors; just make sure you use them sparingly to avoid overwhelming potential buyers.

Painting a home is one of many steps to selling a home, but it’s also one of the most important. The wrong paint color can turn off potential buyers, so put some thought into the decision. Good luck and happy painting!