Tip 31: Nostalgia is a strong feeling

You want to sell because you’re getting divorced from your husband of 25 years? If you no longer love your husband,
but still love your house, think twice about selling.

If the house means that much to you, then perhaps you may want to re-consider. A house is not only a physical structure.
It is a refuge, a reservoirof memories of a family that built a future together.
Sell your house if you have to, but if you’ll spend sleepless nights regretting the decision to sell,
you might be risking your mental health.

Tip 30: Not the time to be fickle…

If your house holds much sentimental value and you feel
that parting with it will affect you psychologically,
assess how strong your emotional attachment to your house is.

Once the house is sold, there is no turning back. Sale contracts are legally binding. You can’t appear at the doorway of the new owners and say, “Sorry, I’ve changed my mind.
I acted irrationally by selling. I want my house back!”

Tip 29: Why am I selling?

You made the decision of selling the house.
You went through the motions of going over your house and looking for things to repair.

Before you get to the next step – advertising your house in the paper and by word of mouth - spend some quiet time to yourself so you can gauge your true feelings about why you want to sell your house.

If you have compelling reasons or circumstances that force you to sell, this may affect your position as a seller.
As the property owner, you should always be on the driver’s seat.

Only you can dictate the terms of sale. If you’re emotionally or financially disadvantaged,
you may want to put off selling your house until you’re 100% convinced that you’re ready – emotionally and financially.

Tip 28: Someone forgot to look up the ceiling…

One real estate agent in Washington DC remarked that she was approached by a couple to sell one
of the“cutest houses in the neighborhood”.

It had excellent potential – large backyard, nice French bay windows, a second floor landing area that was large enough to accommodate a family gathering, and solid wooden floors.

The only thing wrong, according to the real estate agent,
was the entire lighting system. The lamps and chandeliers looked like they were put there since the time of Adam and Eve.

She suggested to the present owners to replace all the lights and to invest in good quality lamps.
The cutest house in the neighborhood eventually sold – just three weeks later – for $900,000.00
Category 4: Your Motives for Selling: Watch out for the Psychological Effect

Tip 27: What? No hot water again?

Many people don’t know this,
but if you were smartenough to have your water heater checked periodically, say so.Water heaters, in order for them to work efficiently, have to be inspected regularly. Over time, water heaters
get an accumulation of chemicals in the bottom. Even if a new roof costs a lot more than a new water heater,target=_top>Click Here!
buyers appreciate the present owner’s thorough “sense of maintenance” by looking into details that homeowners usually overlook.

Tip 26: A house that’s safe and sound.

Buyers are likely to ask you about insulation and energy efficiency
systems in your house.If you don’t know or can’t remember, be honest and say so.
However, it definitely would be to your advantage if you can speak knowledgeably about the “inner character” of your dwelling.
The old installation materials of older houses were declared a health risk by the US and Canadian governments many years ago, and house builders have switched to safer insulation materials.

Make sure you mention this if you do know,
especillyif you’re dealing with a buyer who happens to be a lawyer.

Tip 25: Wow, a home spa!

Pay attention to the bathrooms. Make sure they have good lighting, squeaky clean faucets and a shiny, sparkling bathtub. A stained bath tub is unsightly.

Hang some of your best linens for the visit. A bathroom that smells and looks clean can be a persuasion point. Count yourself lucky if you have a whirlpool or a large Roman bath.

For couples just recently married, the whirlpool or spa might just bring you closer to finalizing that deal. One thing with house hunters: they start with a budget in mind, but watch how they’re easily swayed to stretch that budget a little more when they see amenities that they otherwise would not have thought about previously.

Tip 24: You’ll have a roof over your head for the next 25 years.

Make a list of major and minor renovations you’ve undertaken in the last five years. keep this list in your pocket so that when you give the house tour, you can mention these renovations.

Things like “my husband and I had the roof changed entirely even before the 25-year period. One thing you won’t have in this house is a leaking roof”.

Or else: “These kitchen cabinets and drawers were given a face lift only three months ago”.

Or perhaps: “We decided to install smoked glass in one part of the kitchen to hold our crystal collection”. Then turn on the light of the smoke glass cabinet to show some dramatic effect, the expensive crystal collection and the dim lighting.

Tip 23: I never promised you a rose garden.

Check your front and back yards. Are they well-kept or do they look like they’ve been neglected for the last six months? Is your grass healthy and green and well-manicured?
When buyers look for a house, they customarily concentrate on making adjustments inside the house; they understand that part of the house buying process is renovation.

At least they’re prepared for this event, but when they see that the outside of the house also needs major attention, they could get discouraged – and dismayed no doubt – to see such an unkempt front yard and backyard.

Tip 22: See, this garage door is really simple to operate!

Check your garage door mechanism and see if it’s working properly. You'll want to demonstrate to potential buyers that your garage is in tip top shape.

You may also want to show them your maintenance records (garage doors usually need to be inspected and lubricated once every two years, depending on how recent your garage door and mechanism are).
Tip 23: I never promised you a rose garden.

Check your front and back yards. Are they well-kept or do they look like they’ve been neglected for the last six months? Is your grass healthy and green and well-manicured?
When buyers look for a house, they customarily concentrate on making adjustments inside the house; they understand that part of the house buying process is renovation.

At least they’re prepared for this event, but when they see that the outside of the house also needs major attention, they could get discouraged – and dismayed no doubt – to see such an unkempt front yard and backyard.

Tip 21: Put romance back in their lives…

If you live in an area with a colder climate – Minnesota for instance -- a fireplace makes a good sell, so don't forget
to mention it.

This particular detail can go into the ad, or you can surprise your potential buyer when they come to visit. It’s all up to you. Find out what the real estate agents say about fireplaces.
In Florida for example, a fireplace is not something you’d think a house should have, but in upscale, gated communities, families
do have nice fireplaces in the living room or basement. Ambiance, that’s why.

Tip 20: Did you say an in-ground pool?

If your house comes with a swimming pool, mention it! An in-ground swimming pool adds a lot of value to a house.

Make sure the pool is clean and there are no floating algae or fungi when the buyers come knocking at your door.

If there’s anything that can be quite disconcerting it’s a pool with no water, dead leaves and little creatures floating about, or large cracks in the pool. A pool isn’t fun without a heater. Let your buyer know that the pool’s heater is working.

Tip 19: Getting to know your house…for the last time

Okay, you have a good understanding of real estate, you know your community, and now it’s time to know your house like the back of your hand.

Every house has a hidden defect or a very visible fault. Take pencil and paper and do a tour, taking down all the weaknesses that can potentially be spotted by buyers when they visit. Go around your house several times to make sure you’ve covered everything.

You want to discover the defect before the buyer does. Spare yourself some embarrassment. Don’t underestimate the buyer’s ability to see through walls!

Tip 18: Cavities?

Is the city water fluoridated? You’ll be amazed at how some parents make a big deal of this. studies have revealed that cities where the water has been fluoridated have a lower incidence of tooth decay among school-age children.

Perhaps this looks like a minor detail to you, but remember, the intelligent buyer is taking a thorough inventory of the community and its services.

Tip 17: Help, my car’s been snowed in!

How efficient are your city’s services? Does the area have enough firemen, snow removal trucks, and garbage collection systems? What about facilities for recycling waste material?

The more you know about your community’s services, the better you can capitalize on these selling points.
If either the wife or husband has had a hip fracture, efficient snow clearing by the municipal government is reassuring. Not many cities can say that their snow is cleared on time.

Tip 16: No gossiping allowed!

Are you in friendly terms with your neighbors? If you’re selling a condo or a duplex,the next owners are usually curious about what kind of neighbors live in the same enclave. Show your neighborliness, but don’t gossip about the neighbor on your right. Chances are prospective buyers are only interested if the neighbors are quiet or rowdy. They're not interested in your neighbor’s alcohol problem.

Tip 15: How is the transportation system?

How far are the major highways from your house? Where is the next largest city?How developed is your area’s public transportation system? proximityto a subway station is typically seen by many as a benefit because downtown parking is expensive. This constitutes a great advantage also for teenaged children who attend university downtown.

Tip 14: Is there a doctor in the house?

Does your area have a good hospital? What makes that hospital a plus factor? Familiesthat have aging in-laws in tow would like to know if they can get medical help immediately in case of an emergency.
Also, if your local area hospital is known for a particular specialization make sure you let your buyers know.

Tip 13: Will I fit in the area?

The ethnic factor: if your area has a strong multi-cultural presence, this might be an attraction
for newlyarrived immigrants in search of a house. The feeling of wanting to feel “at home” is a strong motivator. You may think it a trivial matter, but buyers do ask if there’s a sushi restaurant in the area,or if there are any Jewish Synagogues nearby.

Are there meeting places where members of ethnic communities can mingle and share views,
cuisine and stores about “back home”?

Tip 12: And what about concerts and that kind of thing?

Don’t overlook the entertainment factor:
how many restaurants and movie theaters does your area have?
What about concertha halls and other cultural activities? Young couples, especially those with no children,
like to eatout often.

Tip 11: It’s the fitness thing, you know.

Do an inventory of your community’s attractions.
How many parks,tennis courts are there? Is there a YMCA? All these facilities play a major role
in the decision to buy, especially if the husband or wife is a
fitness freak.

Tip 10: Good schools? But of course!

Think about what’s special about your community,
then conjure up an ad that might attract say, a young couple with school-age children.Find out how many private and public schools there are, and how near are they to your house.
Many times, good schools are the deal clinchers.
For young families, schools are a top priority. if the schools in your community have won awards from the private and public sector, or if you hear about any achievements,
mention them to your buyers.

Tip 9: Get only enough to get you started

Too much analysis leads to paralysis.
Arm yourselfwith adequate knowledge and then get moving! Don’t let fear or over-confidence immobilize you.
If you want to sell your house successfully, fear has no place in the grand scheme of things,
nor does arrogance.

Tip 8: Play the real estate game seriously.

Bear in mind that the “no risk,
no gain” philosophy may not always work in real estate. Real estate is a smart, serious business.
It’s better to have brains than guts! Feed your brain with information you will need when you finally do sell your house. Real estate information is not a scarcity.
There are thousands of web sites dedicated to real estate. And the library holds a wealth of information on the subject.

Tip 7: Realistically speaking, my house is really worth…

Set realistic goals: if houses like yours in your area are asking for $250,000.00, don’t think you could make a lot more just
because you have a rose garden and your neighbor doesn’t.
Deviating too much from the mainstream can
work against you.Don’t stop buyers from calling you because your price is way too much the average prices for your area.

Tip 6: Read and devour all that you can!

Build up some more on your knowledge power by visiting your local library,
and browsing through books and magazines about real estate in general (and selling homes in particular).

Be on the alert for people who’ve written about their personal experiences in selling their homes.
Being well-informed is still your best weapon.

Tip 5: Play detective

Do a bit of detective work:
try to keep track of real estate ads that appear only a couple of days
(house could have been sold in just a matter of days)
and adsthat seem to be in the paper forever (why can’t the advertiser sell? What’s preventing him from selling?)
This is where wording might clue you into the reasons.