A move is in your future and you’re going to be selling your home. Whether you’ve lived in your home 12 months or 20+ years, these tips below will help make the home selling process easier. 1. Get your home ready to sell. Take a critical walk through the inside and outside of your home. Make note of those items which need your attention before showing your home and get them done! Many times we get comfortable living in our homes and do not see the house from a buyer’s point of view, so make sure you are thorough.

2. Hire a great Realtor.
Having a qualified professional on your side in a real estate sale is invaluable. A good realtor has experience and knowledge in all phases of the real estate transaction.

Choose a realtor who specializes in the area of town your home is in. He/she can supply you with information on past sales and will have current market knowledge and can guide you in pricing your home competitively.

In today’s fast moving market, you also want a realtor who is up to date using the latest technologies.

3. Make a great first impression.
As the saying goes, you don’t get a second chance to make a great first impression, so making the outside of your home is just as important as sprucing up the inside.

1.   Power wash exterior, patios, sidewalks, driveway and decks.
2.   Paint where necessary.
3.   Replace wood rot.
4.   Repair trim, fences, broken glass. Clean gutters.
5.   Make sure the front door sparkles! Repaint or re-varnish to give it that new look.
6.   Make sure all hardware is in like new condition. All door locks should work perfectly without having to jiggle them       to open.
7.   Make sure that the door bell rings!
8.   Put a new attractive door mat with “welcome” on it. Half circle mats are particularly welcoming.
9.   Put live healthy plants and flowers in pots by front door.
10. Make sure mail box is either new or freshly painted.
11. Make sure entry lights are cleaned, polished with new bulbs. (Or that gas lights are lit and on.)
12. Porch and sidewalk should be spotless and free of any obstructions.
13. Trim overgrown landscaping, tree branches. Trim any plants back from front walk that encroach on the pathway       of your new buyer to the front door.
14. Remove any plants with pointed leaves that have the potential of sticking a new buyer as they approach the       house.
15. Make flower beds “instant pretty” with an abundance of mature flowering plants. (This is not the time to buy baby       plants and wait for them to grow.) Flowers in the red and yellow family show off the best from the street and help       attract attention to your home.
16. Reset automatic sprinklers to operate early morning or overnight. A new buyer will not want to get caught in a       sprinkler shower while admiring your yard!
17. Daily (or at least twice a week) sweep your porch & sidewalk, dust your door, water the plants in pots. Pick off       spent blooms.

Keep in mind that the front door is where your potential buyer will get their first impression of your home and how well it is cared for.

4. Spruce up the inside.
Making your home comfortable inside is key to keeping a buyer interested.
1.   Clean out closets, garage and storage areas. Consider donating unused items to charity or have a garage sale if       your neighborhood permits. Consider temporary rental of an off-site storage unit for the items you want to keep.
2.   Clean walls and trim. Touch up or re-paint where necessary.
3.   Dust ceiling fans, ceiling corners and baseboards.
4.   Wash windows inside and out.
5.   Professionally clean carpets.
6.   Replace burnt out light bulbs, repair non-working items.
7.   Remove personal photos, awards, achievements, diplomas, etc. Too often buyers will get caught up looking at       family photos and forget to focus on “seeing” the home.
8.   Remove all clutter from counters.

You also might consider consulting with an interior designer who can help arrange your current furniture and accessories to highlight your home’s best features.

5. Make your home available for showings.
Buyers won’t consider your home if it is difficult to see. While no one wants a late night or early dawn showing, being flexible is key to getting the most prospects through your home. Talk with your realtor about convenient showing times. And if your situation changes, i.e., a sick child at home, be sure to alert your realtor so he/she can rearrange showings during that time.

6. Prepare for showings.
You’ve got a showing appointment, so now what do you do? To present your home in the best possible light we suggest the following:

1.   Turn on lights and open window coverings. Buyers like to see a home filled with light.
2.   Turn on soft background music. We recommend soft jazz, light classical, etc.
3.   Place fresh cut flowers in visible locations (in bathrooms, master bath counter in front of mirror, on breakfast nook       table).
4.   Eliminate daily living clutter - remove any dishes from kitchen sink, make beds, pick up newspapers, mail, toys,       etc.
5.   Close all toilet seat lids. Make sure your home is clean!
6.   Eliminate heavy odors from cooking, pets, etc.
7.   Remove pets and any evidence of them (pick up food bowls, remove litter box) if possible.
8.   Do not stay for the showing. Buyers are more comfortable taking their time looking at a home if the seller is not       there.

7. Don’t be insulted by a low offer.
Many times, the buyer’s first offer is merely to see how you’ll respond, so don’t take a low offer personally. Discuss with your realtor an appropriate response and remember…you have an interested buyer!

8. Preparing for closing.
Keep abreast of contract deadlines. Make sure you provide any requested documents in advance of their deadline to make sure to stay in compliance with the contract.

Schedule a mover in advance of the closing. Many moving companies find their schedules particularly busy at certain times of the month.

At closing, provide the new owners with keys, remote controls, operating manuals and any other particulars about their new home to make their transition easier.

After closing, be sure to forward mail from your old address and give family, friends, and those you do business with your new address.