Wow it is January 2008! It seems like 2007 flew by. Here in upstate New York we are in the dead of winter and there is no relief insight until April! I always start to get excited about spring by the end of February but I am always disappointed when March comes around because its still winter! I think I already have cabin fever. I have been thinking about the tulips I planted in the fall. I can't wait to see the first bloom. Just when you think you can't take the gray winter any longer your greeted one day by a friendly daffodil.

Although we feel like it will be eons before spring is here again it has a way of peeking its head out and sneaking up on you. If you are thinking about selling your property and your strategy is to list it in the Spring I suggest putting an action plan in place now. Don't be caught unprepared when the nice weather comes around again and buyers are out in full force.

Statistics show your property is most likely to sell within the first four weeks of going on to the market. Home sellers need to make sure that they have a solid sales strategy with their Real Estate Agent, that their home is priced correctly and that the home is in tip top condition. And all of these things should be completed before you plan to list.  Your first Open House should be planned for the first nice spring weekend. Everyone will be eager to get out of their homes and venture outside.

So now in January when spring is still far off in the horizon is when you need to start making your plans to hit the market hard and running. My first suggestion is to interview your Real Estate Agents. You should be speaking with 2 or 3 Realtors who know the area. Normally the Realtor will set an appointment to view your house. They will then do a Comparative Market Analysis which would give the market dictated price you could expect to sell your home for, go over their marketing strategy with you and make suggestions as to how you can prepare your house for sale. Beware of the agent that walks through your house and gives you a price on the spot. They clearly haven't done their homework. The agent should take the time to go back to their office and do a detailed market analysis of your property and then go over it with you. After you have interviewed the agents it's time to decide which one you feel will do the best job and that you are most comfortable working with.

After you have chosen your Realtor and developed a marketing strategy its time to make your house shine. There are many things that you can do that cost little money and will yield big results in the end.

1. If you have a garage or basement make sure that they are spic and span. Overhaul everything that you no longer use and make sure the rest is very organized.
2. Make sure your lawn is neatly kept and your sidewalks are free of debris. Purchase a new welcome mat for the front entry and add some hanging or potted plants.
3. If your entryway door is in bad condition consider painting it and adding new hardware.
4. Make sure your homes interior is completely free of clutter and don't hide it in the closets buyers will notice this and it makes the closets feel small. Start putting things in storage or getting rid of things you no longer use. Make sure your counters are clear and any desks or tables are cleared off.
5. If your homes color choices are untraditional or badly marked by all means paint!  Painting is fairly inexpensive and pays off in the end. Make sure you are neat and don't forget the moldings. If you are unsure about colors ask your Real Estate Agent or go to your local paint store. Neutrals work well and by all means stay away from pure white.
6. Make sure your bathrooms are clean and fix that leaky toilet. If needed add fresh caulk around the bathtub and purchase coordinating bath rugs and towels.
7. Degrease your kitchen cabinets, make sure your countertops and your faucets sparkle and get rid of all clutter and unnecessary objects in the kitchen. Add small throw rugs and new curtains for a quick kitchen spruce up.
8. Be sure to clean all the bedrooms and have the beds made whenever there is a viewing of your property.

The list can go on and on. Your Realtor should be able to recommend exactly what you need to do before the For Sale sign is in your yard. And by all means do not be offended by their advice. As you can see it will take a couple of months to get your house into tip top shape so start preparing yourself now and it you will see big results in the end!

The one thing we all know here in Upstate New York is that even though it seems like it will never get here Spring will always come! And to me that is the beauty of our 4 seasons.

Happy spring selling!

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