6 Vital Things to Do Before Listing Your Home For Sale

If you are thinking about putting your home up for sale there are some important things you must take care of before listing it in order to ensure your success. Bearing in mind that the real estate market is in the down part of the cycle right now you must consider the best ways to be competitive and make your house stand out from the crowd so you will be able to sell it quickly and for the right price. The very first thing you will want to do before listing your home for sale is to find the right realtor.

The right realtor will know exactly what things you need to do in order to attract home buyers and command a good price for your home in any market. Some of the things you will probably need to do before listing your home for sale include making any necessary repairs, improving your curb appeal, staging your home, and developing a plan to keep the house clean at all times. You should also check around and see what other homes in your area are selling for so you can price your home appropriately.

Louise Scoggins is a leading Realtor in the Atlanta Homes market. For more information on Atlanta Foreclosures, please visit ThinkLouise.com

So, now that you know the 6 most vital things you need to do before listing your home, let's look at some of them in a little more detail. Making necessary repairs includes major repairs such as a new roof or windows as well as minor repairs such as chipped paint or rusty hinges on your doors. Image is everything when it comes to selling your home because it is how your home makes a potential buyer feel when they see it even more than the facts and figures that will determine if someone buys your home and how much they are willing to pay. Curb appeal is vital so that a potential buyer gets a good first impression and wants to see more. The exterior of the house should be clean, clutter free and attractive. The grass should be cut, flowers planted and weeds should not exist.

Staging the home is a way of making the interior more attractive. Paint should be neutral because colors like bright red will cause a strong reaction ranging from love to hate and you need the colors to be something that everyone will like so a potential buyer isn't turned off. Having a plan to keep the house clean at all times may mean having the kids spend more time with grandma, setting a schedule for chores or even hiring a housekeeper to come in a couple of times per week.

The real estate market right now is extremely competitive which means you and your house need to be at the top of your game in order to sell. Selling a home right now and selling for a good price is very possible, but you have to play your cards right and make your house the one that everyone wants to live in.

Make Your Home Sell With a Home Inspection

If you want your house to quickly draw a buyer, and if you want to have greater control over the pricing without turning off the buyers, then a home inspection can be the solution.

The real estate market is incredibly competitive right now due to the current state of the economy. So if you need to sell your property now then it can be to your advantage to have a few aces up your sleeve.

Many developers are offering deep discounts and many people are trying to sell their houses also. It is definitely a buyer's market. So what will drive potential buyers to go knocking on your door? Trust and security are two things that are of utmost importance in real estate.

If you can provide these, you have an advantage in the marketplace. When your house has been inspected by an impartial and objective third party with the license, skill, and knowledge to expertly review the condition of your dwelling, you give yourself an advantage to getting a quick sale.

A residence is an entity that requires a wide range of systems and structures, operating together, to properly function. From moisture in the basement to a crack on your wall, these can be seen as signs of systemic malfunction in one or more aspects of your home. Because not everyone has the knowledge to properly inspect the many parts of the house, an inspector should always be called in for the job.

But why bother with a home inspection? Even if you aware of some items that need repair, an objective review can spot items you were not aware of. You can then take care of these items before they have the chance to impact the sale.

A prospective buyer is aware of what a house inspection can mean for them: an assurance of their investment, a way to avoid unexpected repairs, and a safety precaution before handing you their hard earned cash. Since they will likely request an inspection, by having one done before listing you can take care of the items before they become an issue for a buyer.

By having the inspection done before listing the property and telling prospects that you have done this, they know that you mean business, and more importantly, that you can provide them with a sense of trust and security. You are demonstrating to them that your dwelling is one that has been well cared for and that you are willing to have someone evaluate the home. You show them that you have nothing to hide and that you have taken care of any items that could become an unexpected expense to them.

In an industry where competition is the operative principle, having an edge above the rest can help you to get people interested in your house, get an offer more quickly and help you to get the price you are asking. With the current market you know that every potential buyer is important. With people wary of spending and having even more options to choose from, you need to have what it takes to get them feeling safe enough and secure enough to sign the deal. With a professional home inspection, you are one step closer to closing the deal.

Chris Goggans is the President of Realty inspection Services, LLC (RIS). RIS is a Multi-Inspector Home and Termite Inspection company in the Dallas, Fort Worth Metroplex. RIS was established in 1991 and has conducted over 29,267 Home Inspections. Chris Goggans, President, is an active member of TAREI, NTTAREI and NACHI. http://www.RealtyInspectionsDFW.com