If your house is on the market, there are FIVE factors that could affect the sale. Knowing what these are and what you might do to change them could determine how long your house is on the market and the sale price. The first 2 factors are many times not within your control, however, you can control the last 3.
The FIVE P's
Prevailing Market Conditions: I bet there are many homeowners who wish they had sold their home sometime before 2007. You can't beat yourself up too much... maybe you weren't ready yet. However, there are many who find themselves in the 
position of placing their home on the market in these less than favorable conditions. What you as a Seller need to do is recognize this and if you must sell, then accept the current market conditions and move on.
Product Placement: Better known as Location, Location, Location. Okay, so you failed to listen to your friends when they suggested you NOT buy that lot that backed up to what was once a lovely wooded area but is now home to condos that tower over your back yard! Reality is what it is and there are just some things you can't change. What you'll have to do is play up what drew you to the area in the first place (let's hope it wasn't the lovely wooded area) and take action on the 3 Factors that you CAN control.
Pricing or List Price: This is the first thing over which you have some amount of control. Before you decide upon a List Price for your home be sure to take into consideration the first 2 FACTORS and listen to the suggestions of your Realtor. They will know what other homes have sold for and can also show you similar homes in your area for comparison. You will also want to take the "Let's place a high price on it and see what happens" Price and toss it out the window.
Well, you'll do this if you want to sell your home in a timely manner. If you enjoy living in a model-home ready house and having strangers walking through just as you're about to have dinner then go ahead and price it high!
PERFORMANCE: This is the condition of your home. How will it perform when compared to the others? Does everything work? What deferred maintenance must you now 
tackle? You can help overcome Location and Market Conditions with a well maintained house. Buyers today want a move-in ready house. If they are walking through your house and tallying up how much they will have to spend on the items they can see that need repair and wondering what they're NOT seeing then your home might go to the bottom of the "Must See Again" list.
PERCEPTION: Buyers will need to see themselves in your house; they will need to see how their furniture might fit; how they will use a particular room. Counter-tops, closets, space, square footage, use.... these are important to your Buyer. For this you will want the services of a Professional Home Stager who can provide a thorough consultation and personalized report of how you can maximize each showing.
If your home is unoccupied and vacant you will need to consider staging at least the major rooms in the house. A HomeStager can offer suggestions and supply inventory.
Expensive? Not when you consider that this investment is LESS than the cost of Your First Price Reduction!
Remember, you can control the Sale of your House...
Just Don't Forget the 5 P's!
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