10 Tips for Selling Your Home in a Tough Market

Homeowners who are looking to sell their homes in this troubling housing market may find themselves facing a very steep challenge; potential buyers are vastly outnumbered by motivated sellers. With more homes on the market than interested buyers, sellers are forced to do everything within their power to get their home sold. Here are ten ways to boost your home’s desirability and help it sell.

1. Shop the Competition – Before listing your home, look around at comparable homes in your neighborhood that are currently on the market. Be sure to look at them objectively; if there are things you think that those sellers are doing wrong, take note so you can avoid repeating it.
2. Don’t Price Yourself Out of the Market – It can be very difficult for homeowners to realize that the sentimental value of their home doesn’t necessarily translate to a higher selling price. Pricing your home fairly and being realistic is very important in securing a buyer.
3. Upgrade as Much as Possible – Research the upgrades that can translate into a higher selling price in your area, and make any improvements that your budget will allow. Be sure to look into what upgrades help a home in your area sell, though; you want to avoid spending money that ultimately won’t increase the value of your house.
4. Offer to Pay Closing Costs – Letting your seller’s agent know that you’d consider paying the closing costs can help a deal go through more easily, and can also motivate a buyer to pay a bit more than they would have if these perks were not included.
5. Court First-Time Buyers – First-time buyers are often persuaded by the inclusion of appliances, such as refrigerators or washers and dryers; most young buyers don’t yet own these items and may not have room for them in their purchasing budget. 

Read More...