What Can I Do To Make My Home Desirable In A Buyer's Market?

Selling a home quickly, and for more money, in today's market is going to take some effort. There are many things that you can do to make your home really stand out in a buyer's mind when they have so many homes to look at.

First thing to do is get a Home Inspection. These typically cost between $260-$350, but the money that you will gain in the long run will more than cover this cost. A Licensed Home Inspector will inspect your home for all mechanical, electrical, and physical issues that may affect the sale of your property. To see an example of a Home Inspection, go to www.prchomes.com/homeinspect.htm. By having this inspection completed, and correcting the deficiencies that are discovered, you can eliminate problems that will arise when a buyer makes an offer on your home.

A good Buyer's agent will suggest that the buyers have a home inspection performed so they will not be surprised with problems after the sale. Many of these deficiencies can become a negotiation tool for buyers, getting you to reduce your price because of their changed perception of the value of your home when the problems are discovered. Eliminating any possible problems can really support your price, and get you the most amount of money for your home.

Secondly, you will do your pocketbook a world of good if you freshly paint each room of the home, have carpeting cleaned or replaced, and freshen the paint on all baseboards and trim. When a house is in "move-in condition" it sells for a higher price. If a buyer feels that they have to do all of these improvements in order to move in, they start deducting the perceived cost in their minds when making an offer. Something as simple as re-painting your home can net you $5,000 or more in value.

If you are considering updating or adding amenities to your home, be sure to check with a Realtor before making those changes. An improvement that YOU think will add value to your home, may actually be a draw-back to a buyer. For example, adding a swimming pool to your home is going to cost you fortune, but unless pools are common in your neighborhood, and the typical buyer looking at homes in your neighborhood is looking for a pool (and doesn't have small children), you will not be able to re-coop the cost of this upgrade. The same goes for granite countertops in a "rental" neighborhood. You could end up over-improving your home and pricing yourself out of the neighborhood.

Other changes that are easy to take care of, and don't cost a lot of money, are fresh landscaping, removing any wallpaper, and deodorizing the home (cigarette smoke is a BIG turn-off to buyers and their agents).

Another item that can add perceived value to your home is a Home Warranty. Most Home Warranties cover the buyer for 12-13 months after the sale of the property, and are a wonderful tool to use to market your home. Should something go wrong with the plumbing, electrical, or mechanical elements of the home, the buyer is covered by this warranty, and saves you and your agent the hassle of calls after the sale.

Keep in mind that anything you can do to make your home sparkle and feel like new will add the most value and make it stand out in a buyer's mind when they have so many homes to see.

For other articles on how to improve your home for sale, see www.prchomes.com/seller.html