4 things you must do to sell your home

[Sep 24, 2010.]

 

Are you still trying to sell your home? Whether you've been marketing your property for several months or more than a year, it's probably time to rethink your sales strategy if you want to get the ball rolling. Here are four things you must do if you want to sell your home.

1. Adjust your thinking. You can't afford to dwell on how much you could have gotten for a property in your neighborhood a few years ago. That was then, this is now. The fact is you're probably going to have to accept an offer for less money than you'd like if you need to sell now. If the idea of selling in the current housing market makes you queasy, decide whether or not you absolutely need to get out of your home at this time or can hold out until conditions improve. Keep in mind that if you choose to wait, it's possible that it may be years before housing prices rise to a level you are comfortable with.
2. Clean and improve your home. It's unlikely that this is the first time you've heard about the importance of sprucing up a property before putting it up for sale. But it's amazing how many homeowners don't take this advice to heart and continue to show homes that are dirty, cluttered, or extremely outdated, yet expect to get top dollar for their house of horrors. Sure you could go the "As Is" route and skip doing repairs or upgrades, but don't expect any sane person to pay you anywhere near what homes in better condition in your area going for.
3. Decide whether or not you will only accept offers from people who are pre-approved for a mortgage loan. People who are already pre-approved for a mortgage have been given a commitment for financing from a mortgage lender. Home buyers who have been pre-qualified could still be denied a mortgage loan if their situation changes. Only accepting offers from those who are pre-approved could decrease the chances of a deal falling through.
4. Consider a short sale if your house is underwater. You may be trying to sell because you just can't afford the mortgage loan payments and don't want to end up in foreclosure. Getting your mortgage lender to agree to a short sale will result in a hit to your credit, but it's better than having a foreclosure on your record.

Getting an offer

It's a tough housing market out there in many areas, but that doesn't mean there aren't people out there ready to buy a home. If do everything to make your property stand out and remain flexible, you may improve the chances of getting your property sold much quicker. Otherwise, decide if you can continue to live there for a while until the housing market improves.

 

About Author:

Francine L. Huff is a freelance journalist and the author of The 25-Day Money Makeover for Women. She has appeared on a variety of TV and radio shows.