Tips for listing your home for sale
What determines the value of residential real estate? – Yes, the answer is location, 
location, and location. But when you are selling property, you can’t change the location. You can do several things, however, to improve the looks of the property that will have the dual benefits of increasing the sales price and accelerating the sale.
Cleanliness counts
Make sure the home is clean. If still occupied, have it tidied up, with clean kitchen, bathrooms and yard. Have the carpets shampooed and windows cleaned to give the perception of cleanliness. If the home is vacant, make sure it is free of trash and clutter. The cost of a few hours work will be more than compensated by higher price or faster closing.
Repair what you can without spending a fortune
Making repairs, remodeling or even adding another room pays off. In fact, homeowners who make improvements or update kitchens and baths can experience up to a 150% return on investment. If maximizing the sales price is important, do the basic repairs that make the home functional. Some examples of common repairs are: fixing leak stains, replacing worn out carpets, replacing broken glass, and replacing light bulbs. Basically do the things you wouldn’t normally do because they are minor and a headache. Potential buyers feel the same way which negatively impacts the sales price more then the cost of repairs. The goal is to make a buyer feel like your home is well maintained and clean.
Stage the home
A few items of staging in a vacant home go a long way to accentuate nice features and take away the vacant feel. Staged homes sell up to three times faster and for considerably more; providing between a 319% to 578% return on investment. For smaller homes a few items in kitchen and baths make a difference. For higher value homes more elaborate staging commiserate with the value of the home give the perspective buyers a better feel for the home. Be sure the photos on the marketing of the home show the staging.
Take good pictures
Once the home is clean, repaired and staged, invest the time and money to have quality photographs taken. Most buyers begin their home search online and pictures are often the deciding factors for which homes they will actually visit. Some Realtors post photos taken on a mobile phone that do not do justice to the property. Good Realtors will use professional photographers that do everything possible to portray the home in the best way. They shoot photos when natural light is optimum. They have quality equipment, including special lenses for tight angles or wide panoramic views.
appreciation.
Home prices in much of the Phoenix Valley are still falling. The biggest losers at the moment are high value neighborhoods that withstood much of the recession but are now feeling the pain of the rest of the Valley. In particular, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills and Northern Scottsdale.
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