How Does Your Property Stack Up?

BY LISA SCONTRAS

Custom Publishing Group

Sellers, here’s a hint. Before listing your home, do yourself a favor and check out the competition. Because it’s not enough just to know the prices of competitive properties in your neighborhood. To compete in today’s marketplace, your home must also stand out and look better than the competition.

Pay particular attention to the general maintenance of the landscaping, exterior appearance, cleanliness and clutter, as well as upgrades, floorplan square footage and lot size, says Prudential Locations’ top listor in 2005, Nicole Choi.

“Not only does knowing the competition help us to price and market the home, but it also helps us when we are showing the property to buyers to be able to comment on the how our listing compares to the others,” says Choi.

Let’s say a competitive listing has newer appliances or a more up-to-date kitchen. Experts, including Choi, may recommend cleaning everything off the countertops to give the kitchen a larger, more open feel.

“I might advise the seller hire a professional cleaner to clean the house inside and out,” says Choi. “It’s amazing the big impact you can have with little effort.”

Until recently, home’s sold regardless of their size, shape or condition. But as the buying frenzy slows, inventory has increased, allowing buyers to cast a more critical eye on perspective properties.

As a result, sellers are modifying their strategy. Thomas M. Stevens, president of the National Association of Realtors, says consumers need professional assistance to understand and negotiate the current market realities.

“Now that buyers have more choices, it’s even more important for sellers to seek advice from real estate professionals,” says Stevens. “Pros can recommend the right mix of improvements to maximize returns.”

Choi agrees and offers these general tips to sellers:

“It’s a good idea to stage a home before the open house,” says Choi. “Clean the house, get rid of smells, add a fresh flower arrangement, turn on all the lights, open draperies and windows, and turn on some soft music.”

When a buyer looks at a half dozen homes in a day, what they are likely to remember is how clean the house was, how was it maintained, was it cluttered or spacious? Sometimes it is the slightest edge that makes the difference.

Savvy sellers are becoming more aware of the need to make their home more competitive. Some say the property fact sheet, the professionalism of the Realtor and the real estate company’s reputation all can leave a lasting impression on the buyer.

How does your property stack up? It may be one of many a buyer looks at in a day. Talk to your Realtor to see how you can make it memorable.

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