Selling Your Home - Tip # 5

5. Putting Your Home on the Market: Show It to Sell It

After you have cleaned, shined, decluttered and generally whipped your property into shape, it's time to attract a buyer.
Regardless of who markets your home, you or a broker, there are other, small things you must do to attract buyers. For example, even if it's bright daylight, open the blinds and turn on the lights. Also, open all the interior doors to make the home appear roomier. Be sure to remove all your kids and pets -- they're cute, but a prospect wants to see your home, not your pride and joy. In addition, make sure your pet's litter pan is clean so the home smells clean and fresh, not like air freshener. Remember, you need to make sure your home is available to be seen by a prospective buyer with as little notice as possible. That means less than an hour, or even five minutes, if possible.

This is a very important tip that too many sellers miss. Selling your home is an inconvenience, yes we know this. But the goal is to sell your home right? So if that means waking up an extra half hour early in the morning to leave your place ready then it must be done. As an agent, we get last minute appointments all the time, and the seller's that refuse to let us show their homes get missed, skipped and another property that was ready gets the offer. Sounds harsh, but this is the reality! So always be ready for show. Like they say on Toddlers and Tiaras - you have to be on!!