10 Tips for Selling Your Home for 5% to 10% More Than Your Neighbors Sold Theirs For Last Week:

Getting top dollar for your home is no accident. When a home is properly prepared for sale, buyers don't know why but they just want it more than the identical home down the street, and they are willing to pay for it. Here are our top ten tried and true techniques for helping your house knock the socks off of the competition.

1. Under-price it. Nothing makes someone want something more than knowing someone else wants it. And nothing makes someone want something less than thinking no one else wants it. It's like walking into a restaurant you've never been to before and seeing all the tables empty. You really start to wonder if there's something you don't know about. In real estate, the quickest solution to this problem is to under-price your home. Price it a minimum of 5 to 10 thousand dollars less than the cheapest comparable home in the area, even that turkey around the corner that has been on the market for 6 months and won't sell. People will come in droves because it's the best value around. All of this activity will encourage an auction atmosphere and the price buyers are willing to pay will start going up and up because they are worried someone else might get it. It'll make for a lot of work for your Realtor, because they'll have 2 dozen offers to sort through, but that's what they're there for. As an added benefit, the buyers will be much less likely to request repairs or price reductions in escrow because they know about all of the people standing in line behind them waiting to take their position.

2. Leave every light in the house on, all the time. Homes look and feel bigger when they are well lit. It will also feel much more inviting to potential buyers. There's nothing more depressing than a cold dark house. Your electric bill will be twice as much this month, but it'll be worth it when you see those over-bids rolling in.

3. Under-price it.

4. Clean everything, every morning. Pretend the President of the United States is coming over later that day. Wash all the dishes, vacuum the floors, fluff the pillows on the couch, tidy up the coffee table, etc. Wipe down the sink and shower fixtures when your done using them so they're nice and shiny.

5. Under-price it. Is this sounding familiar?

6. Get rid of the clutter. Go through the house and pack up or throw away all the nick-knacks, toys, papers, excess books, excess decorations, etc. Go through the closets and pull out everything but the most needed clothes. Pack them in boxes and move them to the garage, or better yet, rent a storage unit and hide them there. Having less stuff in the house will make it look bigger and will impart a calming feeling to potential buyers. Bulging closets and a cluttered house will just remind them of their house. Leave just a few decorative items on the walls, shelves and tables. Try to make it look like a model home or a hotel room. As an added benefit, you'll get a head start on your packing for the move!

7. Have the carpets cleaned. Never has a couple hundred dollars helped so much. The last thing you want is for the first thing someone notices about your home to be the stains in the carpet. It will turn potential buyer's stomachs when they envision their kids playing on them. If it's really bad, consider replacing the carpets altogether. Even really inexpensive carpet will make a big difference.

8. Under-price it. Is this one sinking in yet?

9. Have the interior and exterior painted. A quick coat of paint can undo years of wear and tear. Now is not the time get frugal and do it yourself, unless you are a really good painter. Spend your time on other preparation tasks and hire a professional for this one. A bad paint job can just make things worse, especially if the potential buyer has a discriminating eye. You will likely see a 3 fold return on your money, 10 times if your current paint is in bad shape.

10. Clean up the yards, and keep them clean. Hire a gardener or landscaper to mow the lawns, pull the weeds, trim the bushes and trees and lay down a layer of bark or mulch in the flower beds. Planting some flowers in the bear spots will provide instant color. Fertilizing the lawn will quickly green it up and bring it back to life. A good crew will be able to do this in half a day for a couple hundred dollars or less. The benefit to your home's curb appeal will be immeasurable! Once it's done, spend a little time to keep it nice once a week. Don't stop once it's in escrow! Buyer's remorse is a very real phenomenon. Don't encourage it by letting your home go.

These are just our top 10 tips that you can do yourself. We've got a dozen more relating to the marketing and promotion of your home. Please feel free to contact us if you'd like to discuss a comprehensive marketing plan for your home.