With the real estate predictions stating that there will be an increase this year in home sales, with many buyers being first timers, it is good to know a few things you can do to make your home appealing. If this is your first time as a seller, there are some things to be aware of before you put your property on the market.

Make your house move in ready

If you are looking to sell, take a step back and look at your home from a neutral point of view if you can. Are there things that need to be fixed? Do whatever you can within your budget to make sure the home is move in ready. This may mean there are some cosmetic repairs, a bit of new landscaping or a few leaky faucets or cupboards that need to be fixed. While those may seem like little things, they are something a buyer notices after walking through tons of houses in their quest to purchase a home. Once your home is ready to be listed and showed, make it available with a flexible showing schedule. If you make your home too hard to get into, buyers will pass your home by and go onto the next.

Price your home right from the start

Over pricing can be a big turn off. In fact, it can keep your home on the market longer than necessary, making it look stale and as if something is wrong with it. A quality Realtor will help you price your home right from the start, ensuring a quicker sale and hopefully less of the back and forth game with counter offers.

Market your home right

Don’t stop at adding your home into the MLS. Ask what home listing sites your home will be featured on and what other methods of marketing your Realtor will do for you. Remember, marketing is a part of the package when hiring a realtor and there are endless opportunities. From advertising in newspapers, magazines, social media, post cards and more, there are endless channels to get your property seen.  Also, quality professional photography is extremely important. Since so many Realtors use professional photographers, there is no reason to pick someone who won’t go this extra step for you.

Prepare for your own purchase

You may be pre-occupied with selling your current home first, but you definitely want to think about where you are going after this is over. When you plan ahead, you will save not only money, but time, and probably a bit of a headache. If you need a bit of time before you move out, your agent might be able to negotiate a lease back giving you a buffer of a couple months so you can find your next home.

As always, make sure you pick a quality real-estate agent

Since so many people pick an agent based on referrals from friends and family without doing their own research, you run the risk of getting stuck with someone you wouldn’t pick otherwise. Buying and selling real estate is a big investment so you should definitely do your research before you sign on the dotted line. Someone familiar with the market and the local area is going to be helpful to have on your side. Add in honest, reliable and professional, and you should have a smooth transaction. If you are looking to sell your Lake Tahoe House, call Peter Delilli at 530-308-4331.