In addition to the help you can expect from your Realtor there are a number of things that you can do to improve your home's price and your sales process. This checklist is full of great tips for speeding the sale and increasing the selling price of your home. Determine your goals in selling:        How much money do you want to keep after closing?  How long can you wait to collect the proceeds and move? A quick, hassel-free sale would dictate a lower price but if you're willing to give time and effort, a strong market price should be attainable. Make sure you and your spouse have the same goal in mind.      "It is critical to set the right asking price. You don't want to feel you sold for too little, but an overpriced home can languish on the market and go stale." -SmartMoney     Plan your next home.  Where will you move?  Do you have a solution if your house closes before you find your next home?     List the problems with your property. There is no point in trying to cover up problems.  As a seller you will be required to sign a legal document disclosing any known problems with your property. If you are selling an older home that you have lived in for years, you may want to get it inspected yourself before you set the price. You can always sell the house "as is" if it's a real fixer-upper. It's also a good idea to fix small things, like a broken dishwasher or cracked tiles, so they don't enter into negotiations. If your home is in good condition, a professional home inspection can give confidence to a prospective buyer.

Select the right Realtor for your listing agent.  With your listing agreement signed, your Realtor can begin to promote your property. As soon as your property hits the MLS you should start to get inquiries. Double check with your Realtor about the marketing plan beyond the MLS.  Review those publications and promotions to see that your property is represented accurately and to your satisfaction.        Prepare your house for showing.  Apart from major improvements there are many little things that you can do to improve the selling price of your home.  Pack away clutter and tuck the boxes in closets.  Home staging is becoming a popular practice, and your listing Realtor should be able to advise little things to make your home attractive to many buyers.     Decide what goes and what stays. If you want to take the Bosch Dishwasher and the heirloom chandelier, tell your Realtor so Buyers will be aware before negotiations begin. Leaving custom drapes and cushions can be an attractive selling point (they likely won't fit your new home anyway). Have a garage sale or donate what you don't want before listing your home.     Plant flowers and improve landscaping in front to improve curb appeal and help your property make the best possible  first impression.

Trim the plants & shrubs.  Make your green areas show that the entire property is loved and well taken care of.     Paint the inside where needed.  Make the buyer feel they can move right in.     Clean all your windows making your home sunnier and more inviting. Open drapes and shades before showings so that rooms have as much natural light as possible.     Keep all your rooms neat and clean. If you have children, keep some banker boxes in their play areas where toys can be tossed for showings and the boxes stacked in a closet or against a wall.     Remove as much clutter as you can stand to do without.     Dust or polish anything you don’t remove.  Make the buyer think that “living is easy” in your home.     The preparations on this checklist will save you considerable time and increase the chances of getting the very best price for your property.

Elizabeth Snide
                   704.222.7343   LizSnide@YourCharlotteHome.com

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