Looking for real estate advice

tango14
Fri, 09 Jan 2009 01:10:34 +0000

I agree with the decluttering / staging advice and creating a “wow” factor. The house should be spotless, even the nooks and crannies, no cobwebs, behind/under seldom moved furniture, baseboards, windows, etc. Fresh flowers, freshly baked bread, etc. all help sell. Plenty of light as well. Potential buyers need to feel that they could move right in without having to do a lot of work.

Our previous house was on the market 8 months before it sold. (This was several years ago.) We got rid of our first agent after the listing expired, but were very happy with agent #2. House was empty because we had to move but spotless. Looking back, we probably would have left/borrowed some a little furniture or used cardboard boxes like they do on some of the shows.

We felt strongly about NOT reducing the price. Nothing says desperation more than that. We thought the price was very reasonable and perfectly in line with comparable houses in the area, and we were willing to negotiate with the eventual buyers.

House went on the market in June and sold following March. Beginning in Feb., we told the agent that we wanted an open house every week until it sold. She agreed. It took 5 of them but we figured it would get people in the house.