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Want to get your home sold quicker and for more money, use these tips.

By
Real Estate Agent with Long and Foster Realtors

Before you put your home on the market, there are some things you can do to have your house stand out among the competitors.

When preparing your home for being marketed, your first concern is the home's exterior. If the outside, or "curb appeal" looks good, people will more than likely want to see what's on the inside. Keep the lawn and landscape nicely manicured. Trim the bushes and season permitting, plant some flowers. Be sure your front door area has a "Welcome" feeling. A fresh coat of paint on the front door looks great.

Of all the rooms inside your home, pay special attention to the kitchen and bathrooms. They should look as modern, bright and fresh as possible. It is essential for them to be clean and odor free. A fresh coat of paint just may do the trick. Have any leaky faucets taken care of. A call to a plumber is a wise investment.

Since you want your home to look as spacious as possible, remove any excess or very large furniture. Make sure that table tops, dressers and closets are free of clutter. Don't use your garage, attic, or basement to store these extra things. These areas also need to have the impression of space. Instead, put them into storage. Make sure walls and doors are free of smudges and look for anything that might indicate a maintenance problem, such as cracked windows, holes in the wall or stained ceilings.

Finally, if your basement shows any signs of dampness or leakage, seal the walls

Jody Lautenbach
Century 21 Premier Associates - Pella, IA

always looking for what others tell their clients- thanks for sharing.

Jan 10, 2010 02:49 AM
Jeff Craig
Hang Me Up Photos - Jamestown, NC
Greensboro Area Real Estate Photography

Good advice walter.  Also make sure there are no odors, especially if you have pets.  Sometimes we are so use to the pet odors we don't notice them, so have a friend or relative  give their honest opinion.

Jan 10, 2010 03:25 AM
Jackie - computer-training-atlanta.com
770.498.7333 - Atlanta, GA
Learn to leverage technology to get more done.

Walter. Thanks for commenting on my blog. These are good tips, and I second Jeff's comments about odors.

Jan 10, 2010 06:07 AM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

Great tips.. the most important thing is pricing the home correctly for the market you are in.

Jan 19, 2010 03:22 PM
Walter Grewe III
Long and Foster Realtors - Roanoke, VA
Realtor, SFR, A-REO, Roanoke Homes and Real Estate

Jeff-Odors are a concern thanks for adding that.

Joan- Pricing is the #1 concern for getting homes sold in this market. Good point.

Jan 21, 2010 12:34 AM
Charles Stallions
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services - Pensacola, FL
850-476-4494 - Pensacola, Pace or Gulf Breeze, Fl.

When the folks learn to price right, then want need an agent and when people learn to get along there will be no need for Lawyers and neither is bound to happen.

Jan 21, 2010 04:45 AM