There are only a couple days left in the year 2007. People are hitting the stores with returns, to exchange gifts they received that did not suit them and to spend the gift cards that they received as presents.  They will celebrate the beginning of 2008 and then what? Well, if there is a move in their near future they will start investigating the real estate market. So if you are considering selling your home, you need to get ready.  Some things to consider:

PRICE:  The number one factor whether your home will sell is price.  You need toprice your home where the market says it is valued. Do not make the mistake of thinking you can price it high and buyers can make offers.  It does not work that way.  If it is priced too much higher than what they think it is worth, they will never even walk through the doors to look at it. I have seen so many cases of an agent telling a seller the home should be priced at $300,000 and the sellers want to put it on the market at $350,000. Agent does as the seller asks and the home sits, and the seller can not understand why it has not sold since neighbor x got $329,000 and their home was notas nice as ours. 

HIRE AN AGENT?:  Next you have to decide if you will hire a Real Estate Company or try to sell it yourself.  If you decide not to hire an agent, you will need to make all appointments on your home.  Remember, if you are not there to answer a call, the buyers will go on to the next home.  You should also make sure that the buyer can afford the home.  How will you market it? Ads, internet, opens, brochures?

WHAT AGENCY SHOULD I HIRE?  Although you are listing your home with the broker, I actually believe that it is the agent that you need to consider. You should interview a couple of agents.  Possibly get a name from someone you know. Make sure that you hire someone that you are compatible with, that will communicate with you consistently, that you feel comfortable entrusting the sale of your home with.

CURB APPEAL:  Make sure your home is inviting from the outside. Trim back bushes, mulch (if it is springtime), plant some flowers, power wash the home if needed, and paint?  Try to look at your home as a buyer would. Remember with buyers, it is a process of elimination.  Don't let them eliminate your home before they even walk in the front door.

INTERIOR:  Make sure your home is al neutral as possible,  Remember the buyer needs to be able to picture "their furniture in their new home"  You may love the colors that you painted your rooms when you personalized the home, but they could be the colors that the buyers dislike. Get rid of the clutter. Again, how can they picture their stuff, if all the walls are covered.  Some agents suggest taking down all family photos.  I don't know if I will go that far to say all, but keep photo to a minimum. If you are not sure, you can ask your agent or call on a professional staging company.

HOME INSPECTIONS:  Consider having a prelisting home and/or septic inspection done prior to putting your home on the market.  You will know about and can repair any issues that could cause the value of your home to decrease.

REMEMBER:  Although the press keeps saying the real estate market is poor,  RealEstate markets are constantly changing and are "LOCAL".  By this I mean, the market may be a severe buyers market in Florida, but a sellers market in Kansas. In Bucks County, we are in a stable market and if a home is priced right and well maintained, it is still selling.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!