5 Simple Steps to Sell Your House Fast!

The decision to sell your house wasn't made on the spur of the moment. It may have been spurred by the desire to live in a nicer home, the need to move for a new job or the necessity to get a handle on out-of-control costs. But whatever the reason for the decision, you've got a lot of work ahead of you before you're ready to actually sell your house on the market if you want to get the best possible price for your property. Is this your first time to sell a home? No problem! Read our tips below that will show you how to sell a house.

Step 1: Assess The Value Of Your Property

Pricing your home right is the key factor in selling it in a reasonable amount of time. Setting a price too high will make your home undesirable to buyers. Pricing it too low may, in fact, deter buyers who wonder what's wrong with it - or simply not get you a fair price for your property. Now is the time to do your research.

How much should your house sell for? In other words, what's the 'right' price? It's the price at which homes similar to yours in the same neighborhood have sold recently. You can use the free online home valuation service to find out exactly what your home is worth if you plan to sell your house yourself. Alternatively if you plan to sell your house with an agent, a good Realtor can quickly give you a reasonable approximate price based on recent sales in your neighborhood, coupled with the condition and specifics of your house. A Realtor can also make specific suggestions for things you can do to prepare your home to sell for a good price.

Step 2: Figure Out How Much It Will Cost You To Sell

If you've never sold a house before, you may not be aware of all the associated costs. You'll need to know about these costs in order to help you adjust the asking price on your house, as well as to help you estimate the profit that you'll realize on the house. If you're counting on the sale of your house to finance the purchase of another, this is especially important. These out-of-pocket costs may include:


Advertising your home, if you're selling it yourself. This could easily run into hundreds of dollars, depending on the methods you choose.
Realtor commissions - typically 6% of the selling price.
Closing costs, including attorney and other professional fees
Excise taxes on the sale
Property taxes and any homeowner association fees

Step 3: Take Care Of Any Needed Repairs

If you've been putting off getting the driveway fixed, repairing the roof or any other needed repairs, the time to do it is now, before you put your house on the market. Some repairs, left undone, will prevent your home from selling at all and others will bring your asking price down. Replacing broken roofing tiles, loose gutter shoring and other minor but unsightly problems will make your house that much more saleable.

Step 4: Get Your House Looking Its Best

Selling for the price you want depends on how appealing your house is. Take a good, hard look at your house, inside and out. Trim bushes, mow lawns, plant a flower bed. Something as simple as giving your siding and windows a good scrub down can freshen its look immensely.

Here are some other things that increase the chances of your house selling quickly:


A fresh coat of paint, or just touching up the trim
Freshly painted interior walls
New carpet or flooring in common rooms like the kitchen or bathroom

Step 5: Have A Garage Sale

Get rid of all the accumulated clutter and pocket a little profit at the same time. That collection of kids' bikes in the garage may be a storehouse of memories to you, but to a prospective buyer they're just clutter - and they will make your garage look smaller. Clear away as much clutter as you possibly can. When you're ready to show your house, it should be as close to move-in condition as possible. The more easily a buyer can picture their own family in the house, the more likely they will be to buy.

Andrew is the web owner of Home Buying and Home Selling Tips: How to buy a house and sell house fast!, a website that provides informational guide on home buying, selling house, home mortgage loan, foreclosure home, real estate investment, and more. You can visit his website at:http://www.buy-and-sell-house-fast.com/

Free Tips That Will Dramatically Increase the Selling Value Of Your House (Part 1)

Did you know that it’s a proven fact that a properly maintained home sells substantially higher then a home that is dirty, depressed looking and clearly not maintained very well? When it comes to selling your house the statement “first impressions are the selling impression” couldn’t be any more accurate. This article will highlight some quick tips that will increase the amount of money you can ask for you home when you’re ready to sell it.

These tips won’t consist of insisting that you perform a major renovation or complete overhaul of your home. Instead they will focus on what you can do outside around your house in order to increase your property value. These quick fixes can include things such as cleaning, painting, refinishing, and other such efforts. These are the projects that don’t require all that much capital, and yet they make an immeasurable improvement to the overall look of your home.

Remembering what we said earlier about first impression prompts my first and number 1 tip. Always take the necessary time to tidy up around the outside of your home. This would include all debris, refuse or garbage waste as well as tools, children’s toys and yard care tools such as lawnmowers and weed eaters.

Always keep any bushes or shrubbery around the outside of your home neat, trimmed and well shaped. It creates the illusion of a well maintained home and subconsciously makes the buyer fell better about the house before actually stepping inside.

Planting inexpensive flowers around your home in order to brighten up the outside can have a positive effect on promoting your house. Many of my favorites include petunias, marigolds and zinnias. Flowers are especially attractive under windows, on porches and of course in flower beds.

Another sure winner when it comes to creating a positive buzz about your house is a properly manicured lawn. Make no mistake about landscaping plays a huge role in determining the value of your home. In fact, studies have shown that when the landscaping of a home is in excellent condition, it can sell for about 4 to 5 percent higher, while homes with landscaping in very poor condition can sell for 8 to 10 percent less. That’s a huge difference in the overall selling price of your home.

If you have a porch or any types of railing on the outside of your home then take the necessary steps to make sure that all of the wood used is in good shape. Make sure all wood screws are properly tightened and that nothing is molding or broken. Additionally make sure the railing is secure and not loose so as to pose a safety hazard.

If you have any shutters on your home make sure they are kept clean and serviceable. The reason for this is quite simple. When they’re well maintained and in good shape, they can add a warm, comforting touch to brick, stone, or just about any other finish. However, if they’re not well maintained, and are in bad shape, they are one of the fastest ways to make your home appear to be neglected; especially to prospective buyers.

Make sure to identify any areas around the outside of your home that require touch up paint. The small investment in time and the necessary paint supplies you purchase will significantly increase the appeal of your home and allow you to ask a higher selling price.

Finally perform one more look at the overall condition and cleanliness of your home prior to any prospective buyers coming by with a real estate agent. Inspect to make sure the gutters, windows and siding are all clean. Remember, your goal for the best possible curb appeal is a neat, clean, well maintained atmosphere. All of these items can be easily performed in a few hours, and they’ll make an enormous difference for selling your home.

Timothy Gorman is a successful webmaster and publisher of Best-Free-Insurance-Quotes.com. He provides free insurance information and offers discount home, auto and life insurance that you can research in your pajamas on his website.

How To Feng Shui Your Home To Make It Sell Quicker.

How To Feng Shui Your Home To Make It Sell Quicker
In a competitive real estate market, home sellers are looking for the edge to make their home sell fast. Feng Shui, or the ancient Chinese art of placement, is one answer. Jaan Ferree, a Feng Shui consultant based in Asheville, North Carolina, explains. that Feng Shui is “having the intention to pay attention” to your environment.

I recently asked Jaan for a few Feng Shui pointers to help the home seller find a buyer faster. Here are some of her Feng Shui ideas for the home seller.

House Number
Jaan Ferree suggests taking a closer look at the house number and position on the block. As a buyer approaches the home is it easy to tell he or she is at the right place? Is the number of the home visible?

Front Door and Approach
Make sure the entrance to your home is easily discernable. If the entrance is not the front door, is it obvious to the visitor where they enter? Is the walk from the car to the door safe, well defined, well lit, and attractive? Ferree says the front porch, door, and threshold should be welcoming and have a "greeter". Use a pot of geraniums, other flowers or plants, a statue, or an attractive welcome mat. She also suggests a beautiful color on the door, wind chime, basket hung on the wall beside the door, plaque beside the door or other plants or objects which will "lift the chi" (energy) of the person approaching the entrance to the home. Finally, a clear bell or doorknocker, to let someone know you are there, is always helpful.

Trim the Bushes
Make certain shrubbery and landscaping is not overgrown. If it is, the energy may have the effect of "pushing the person away" who is approaching the entrance to the home. The best plants to line the edge of the walkway have soft round corners. Avoid sharp pointed plants or objects.

Interior Entranceway
Once you enter the home the space inside the door should be clear of clutter and obstructions. If there is a wall directly across from the entrance Ferree says that placing a mirror or art on the wall will lift the chi tremendously. This Feng Shui treatment makes sense because it prevents your visitor from walking into a blank wall. It also makes something visible that will immediately lift the spirits of your guest.

Ferree suggests paying close attention to the “subtle environmental clues” in the interior of the home to make sure that you are not pushing someone away with the objects in the space, or making them have to "get smaller" to walk through the space.

Safety First
In addition to aiding in lifting the energy of a space, Feng Shui can also reflect simple common sense. Safety, both real and perceived, is extremely important. Ferree recommends, “Pick up any items strewn about the yard and make sure all walkways and stepping stones and steps are level. Good lighting is essential, too. It must b e easy to walk through the interior and exterior of the house without obstruction.”

Avoid Clutter
According to Ferree, “clutter will keep a house from selling for many different reasons, one of which says the person does not attend to the upkeep of the home.” Clutter collects stagnant energy and brings the feeling of the space down. The two kinds of clutter are passive and active. Examples of active clutter are scattered children's toys in a living room, or brushes, paints and accessories in an artist’s studio. Passive clutter is piles of things which have not been put away, thrown away or recycled.

Positive Energy Keeps Guests Happy
Ferree has some ideas on how to invite positive "chi" (energy) into your home. Spread smells, such as vanilla, cinnamon, or citrus throughout the home. Consider the lighting, colors and color arrangements and clarity of a space. Work on design enhancements that welcome visitors to your space and invite them to stay a while.

Ferree has one piece of final advice that applies to many situations. “Your home tells a story about you” she says, “People read the story every time they visit your space. Be aware of that and put your best self forward.”



Elaine VonCannon (www.vonmor1@cox.net) is a REALTOR with RE/Max Capital in Williamsburg, Virginia, and she manages investment property as part of her business. Elaine is also an Accredited Buyer's Representative as well as a Senior Real Estate Specialist. She has helped numerous clients invest in and make money on property in Southeastern Virginia.

10 Reasons A Home Buyer Will Never Buy Your House by Andrew Lo

If you're getting your house ready to put it on the market, keep in mind that buyers are looking for their dream home. Your job is to make them believe that your home is their dream. In order to sell them the dream, though, you'll need to avoid the ten things that will completely kill the illusion and guarantee that no home buyer will ever by your house.

1. Odors

Dream homes don't smell. If you have pets, if you smoke or if your basement gets damp and mildewed, your house will tattle on you. A house that smells doesn't' sell - it's that simple. You may not even notice the odors yourself - but someone who doesn't live in it and isn't used to them will. Ask a friend for their honest opinion - and if they tell you that your house has unpleasant odors, don't try to cover them up. Tackle the root causes by cleaning down to the shine - and then avoid building odors back up. Move the cat's litter box outside, and if you must smoke, do it in the yard. Don't overlook more transient odors either. Avoid cooking pungent, garlicky or highly spiced food within a few hours of a home showing. And while baking chocolate chip cookies or apple pie won't sell your house, it certainly can't hurt.

2. Evidence of pest control

People living in dream homes don't need to put out mouse traps or roach bait. Make sure that any pest control items are well out of sight when you're showing a house to avoid any hint that there's a pest problem in your house.

3. Clutter and personal items

When prospective buyers are looking around your home, they want to see themselves in it - not your family. Buyers don't want to buy a 'lived in home'. They want their own, special dream home. Put away pictures, albums and mementoes, clear off countertops and get rid of clutter.

4. Overstuffed storage space

When you clear away the clutter, move it further than the nearest cabinet. If your closets look like Fibber McGee's, spend a weekend paring them down. Buyers will want to open closet doors and see attic and basement storage space. If those spaces are overcrowded, they won't be able to gauge the amount of space they have. Not only that, overcrowded closets subtly hint at other hidden 'secrets' - if you're hiding your clutter, what else might be hidden behind the walls?

5. Stained ceilings and walls

Water stains on your ceilings and the tops of walls are evidence of leaks - either in the roof or in the plumbing, and that's trouble no one wants to buy. If there IS a leak, get it repaired. Once it's fixed, prime and paint the damaged walls and ceilings.

6. Dirty bathroom

It doesn't matter how clean the rest of your house is if your bathroom is dirty. Scrub the tiles, get rid of every sign of mildew and make sure that the fixtures shine. Not only does a dirty bathroom smell bad, it hints at a basic lack of cleanliness about the entire house.

7. Dated and worn-out wall-coverings and flooring

Threadbare carpet, worn and missing floor tiles and outdated wall coverings all suggest a house that hasn't been cared for or kept up to date. Unless they're specifically looking for a 'fixer-upper', few buyers will look twice at a house that they'll have to redecorate before they can live in.

8. Unkempt landscaping

The first impression that buyers get of your house is the most lasting. Make sure that your house has 'curb appeal'. Shaggy lawns, weeds choking the pathways and cracked driveways are all turn-offs to potential buyers. Spruce up the outside of your house - fresh paint if you can, mowed lawn, and an attractive entry to their dream home will go a long way toward making an excellent first impression.

9. A price that's too high

Even if your house is in tip-top shape, if you've priced it too high for the market, it will not sell. If your house is in the $150,000 range, and you're asking $175,000 for it, prospective home buyers will compare it to other houses in the $175,000 range - and likely find it lacking.

10. Pets, children and other interruptions

No matter how much people like pets and children, there are times that they'd rather not have them around. Remember that you want prospective buyers to feel comfortable and at home in your house. They'll find that difficult to do if their exploration of their possible dream home is interrupted by an over-enthusiastic dog or your children.


About the Author
Andrew is the web owner of [URL:www.buy-and-sell-house-fast.com/]Home Selling Tips: How to sell your own house fast, a website that provides informational guide on home buying and selling tips and more. You can visit his website at: http://www.buy-and-sell-house-fast.com/. This article may be freely distributed if this resource box stays attached.

House Selling Tips

There are hundreds of good house selling tips that can help you when the time comes to put that sign in the yard. Some are more important than others though. Here are three of the most important points.

1. Understand Value. Your home is not worth more because you like it, and it may not even be worth more after you spend $10,000 making it the way you like it. It is worth what others will pay. One of the worst parts of a real estate agent's job is trying to explain to a nice couple that their $45,000 in kitchen improvements only added $10,000 to the value of the house.

It is easy to see the problem with pricing too low, but making less money is a problem of pricing too high as well. You have costs that you pay while waiting to sell. Also, people are suspicious of homes that have sat unsold for a year, and less likely to make an offer even if you have finally lowered the price. The perfect buyer who would have paid the most, might have looked at the home when it was over-priced and walked away. To get the most money, price it right to begin with.

2. Understand The Market. Who are your potential buyers? A sign in the yard wont help much if you're selling a summer home in the woods and all the buyers are in the city. Once you identify who the likely buyers are, you or your agent can decide which ways to market the property.

Are you in a quiet neighborhood that is attracting retirees? If so, you would want to advertise the fact that your house has one level. "No stairs!" can be an important selling point to older buyers. If the neighborhood is one that is likely to attract young couples, however, it would be a waste of words. Consider your market before you try to sell.

3. Cost-Effective Preparations. Of course you should clean the house and mow the lawn. The other things you do to get ready for the sale should be cost effective though. As a rule, you should first do those things that will give you a three-to-one return on your money.

It isn't important (or possible) to be precise. The point is to do things that raise the value more than they cost. $1,000 to repave the driveway may increase the value of the house by $3,000, but a $50,000 pool might add only $25,000 in value. Start by replacing that dented mailbox, and work on those things that get "the most bang for the buck."

If you have the time and motivation, you can find endless little house selling tips. That may not be a bad idea, but why not start with the important things first?

Steve Gillman has invested in real estate for years. See a photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500 on his home page, or go straight to the section on Investing In Real Estate: http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Selling a Home - Curb Appeal Is a Top Priority

Selling a Home - Curb Appeal Is a Top Priority

Home Selling - Geting Ready to Show Your House to Potential Home Buyers

Home Selling - Geting Ready to Show Your House to Potential Home Buyers

Real Estate Trends 2005 : Home & Garden Television

Real Estate Trends 2005 : Home & Garden Television

myHome4salerss

Welcome to our Blog. We live in a community that has seen ongoing development for the past three years. Each weekend the street corners are littered with signs advertising that an open house was taking place. Ever wonder who really sees these signs, hopefull prospects who just happen to be going through the neighbourhood at that time or is it neighbours curious to see what your house looks like from the inside.

We thought if we could collect open house information and feed it through the internet to targeted audiences interested in moving to a particular geographical region, we could influence people to come out to open houses within particular communities and potentially increase the exposure that a home owner or realtor is seeking.

Imagine sitting at work or at home in the evening a message pops up on your computer. Open house this weekend in a community that your eager to move to. Click on the header and you get a bit more information on the house up for sale. Click on a read more link and be transported to a website where you can see a picture of the home and more information. Without leaving your desk, you can decide whether that home is for you and plan when to visit.

For the realtor or private home owner showing the home, they get someone who has seen the information on the home and have driven specifically to that home to view it. They reached their targeted market.

The reason why we believe these feeds will eventually be popular is we hope to be able to offer them by city and town. Someone interested in seeing a variety of homes on the weekend, will receive all the information they require to plan out their visits, covering all the homes they are interested in. No more wandering around aimlessly, hoping to come across the home of their dreams.