I AM SURE I LEFT OUT SOME THINGS ON THIS LIST, BUT I WANTED TO KEEP IT SHORT AND SWEET. SO, HERE IS A LIST OF THE TOP 5 THINGS TO DO TO SELL, NOT SELL YOUR HOME...(IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)

1) IGNORE THE ADVICE OF YOUR AGENT WITH REGARD TO PRICING YOUR PROPERTY! IF YOU ARE WORKING WITH A TRUE REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL, YOU SHOULD HAVE EVERY CONFIDENCE THAT YOUR HOME IS BEING PRICED CORRECTLY. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR WANT JUSTIFICATION, THEN ASK. NO TRUE REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL WILL MIND SUPPLYING THE INFORMATION TO YOU THAT WAS USED TO SUPPORT THEIR CONCLUSIONS. IF YOUR AGENT DOES HAVE AN ISSUE WITH THIS, THEN YOU MAY WANT TO RE-EVALUATE THAT RELATIONSHIP!

2) MAINTAIN A LESS THAN CLEAN, TIDY EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR. I AM NOT TALKING ABOUT STAGING OR SPENDING MONEY ON ANY UPGRADES, (ALTHOUGH SOMETIMES THESE ARE GREAT IDEAS). I AM SIMPLY SUGGESTING THAT CLEANLINESS AND LACK OF CLUTTER DOES ABSOLUTE WONDERS FOR THE SALE OF A HOME. BEST OF ALL, ACHIEIVING THIS RESULT IS ABSOLUTELY FREE AND TAKES MINIMAL TIME.  THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT WILL BE INSTANTLY TURNED OFF BY A DIRTY, CLUTTERED HOME AND WON'T EVER EVEN TAKE THE TIME TO TRY AND ENVISION SOMETHING DIFFERENT...THEY WILL SIMPLY MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ONE.

3) FAIL TO RESPOND TO REQUESTS FOR SHOWING APPOINTMENTS: I CAN'T STRESS THIS ONE ENOUGH. OF COURSE, YOU ARE BUSY. EVERYONE IS BUSY THESE DAYS. THERE IS SIMPLY NO EXCUSE TO NOT REPLY TO PHONE CALLS, EMAILS OR TEXTS WITHIN 24 HOURS. IF A BUYER CANNOT BE ACCOMMODATED ON THEIR FIRST REQUEST, THE VAST MAJORITY OF THEM WILL NOT EVEN MAKE A SECOND ATTEMPT. IN THE BUYERS' MINDS, THERE ARE FAR TOO MANY PROPERTIES ON THE MARKET TO WASTE TIME WITH AN UNCOOPERATIVE SELLER.

4) (FOR SHORT SALES): FAIL TO SUPPLY REQUIRED DOCUMENTATION IN A TIMELY MANNER. I REALIZE THAT EVERYONE IS NOT A TYPE A PERSONALITY WITH DRAWERS OF FILES ALL NICE AND NEAT AND PLACED IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER. HOWEVER, REGARDLESS OF YOUR PERSONALITY TYPE AND ORGANIZATIONAL ETHICS - IT ONLY MAKES SENSE TO MAINTAIN THE FOLLOWING ITEMS IN A CENTRAL LOCATION THAT CAN BE EASILY ACCESSED: CHECK STUBS, BANK STATEMENTS, TAX RETURNS, W2'S, STATEMENTS FROM RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS ETC. I THINK YOU GET THE IDEA.

EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT ATTEMPTING A SHORT SALE, ANY MAJOR PURCHASE THAT YOU ATTEMPT IN LIFE WILL REQUIRE ONE OR ALL OF THOSE DOCUMENTS. IT SHOULD NOT TAKE 2 WEEKS TO LOCATE SUCH IMPORTANT FINANCIAL INFORMATION.

5) REMAIN PRESENT DURING SHOWINGS - (IF I ABSOLUTELY HAD TO RANK THESE - PERHAPS THIS WOULD BE NUMBER 1 OR 2) IN MY OPINION, NOTHING KILLS A POTENTIAL SALE FASTER THAN THE SELLERS REMAINING HOME DURING PROPERTY SHOWINGS. MOST BUYERS ARE NOT GOING TO BE ANYWHERE NEAR AS FRANK AND HONEST IN THEIR DIALOGUE WITH THE SELLER OF THE HOME PRESENT AND BREATHING DOWN THEIR NECKS! THE BUYERS DON'T WANT TO OFFEND THE SELLERS, SO THEY USUALLY REFRAIN FROM ASKING ANYTHING AT ALL. QUESTIONS INDICATE INTEREST AND IF A BUYER CAN'T ASK QUESTIONS OR IS UNCOMFORTABLE ASKING QUESTIONS....THEN THERE WILL BE NO SALE!!!

WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS?