In the current buyer's market that many Realtors across the country are facing, homes prices are falling very fast. A home that sold for $350,000 two years ago is now selling for about half that in Modesto at roughly $200,000.  So what techniques can you use to make your property stand out to where you can maximize profit for the homeowner and yourself, without pricing it too high as where all the other agents in the area won't show your property.

The ways to do this is very simple, but it is not greedy.  For example, pricing a property $100K above the rest would not be an effective way to do this. However, there are things to do to spruce up the property and the price.

1. Improve that curb appeal.  The property needs to stand out above the rest upon first look. Most people that buy a home or don't buy a home know within 10 seconds if it is a home that they like. Making a good first impression by having a superb outside helps with that. This also applies to the back yard.  This can make or break a sale.

2. Have it staged appropriately. Homes that sell quick are ones that others can imagine themselves in.  Get rid of the clutter, personal photos, and minimize the amount of furniture.

3. It should smell and look clean. A quick sprucing up could be all that it takes. However a clean home is one that should sell quickly.

4. Put a fresh coat of paint on the walls, if necessary. Again that goes into the clean smell, but it will help. If the colors are not neutral, make sure they are. Bright outlandish colors will help the place sit.

If all this is done, then you have a good opportunity to make your listing stand out and the offer should reflect that.