Selling your home?

Whether you are looking forward to moving up to that new dream home or making a major move across country, we'll be there every step of the way; to help make your home selling experience pleasant and get you the best price for your property!
Below are a few tips that can help to sell your property quickly:    

Check Your Curb Appeal

A home that's visually appealing and in good condition will attract potential buyers driving down the street. Use this checklist to view your property through an outsider's eyes.

• Are the lawn and shrubs well maintained?
• Are there cracks in the foundation or walkways?
• Does the driveway need resurfacing?
• Are the gutters, chimney and walls in good condition?
• Do the window casings, shutters, siding or doors need painting?
• Are garbage and debris stored out of sight?
• Are lawn mowers and hoses properly stored?
• Is the garage door closed?
• Keep the dog's area of the yard clean.

On the Inside

Strong curb appeal will lure potential buyers inside, where you have to live up to their expectations. Fortunately, there are plenty of easy improvements you can make to your home's interior without spending a lot of money.

• Windows, floors and bathroom tiles should sparkle.
• Clean heating and air conditioning filters.
• Shampoo dirty carpets, clean tubs and showers
• Repair dripping faucets and oil squeaky doors.
• Keep your home neat, clean and picked-up at all times.
• Remove unnecessary clutter from the garage, basement, attic, closets and straighten stored items.
• Remove any items that might make a statement that would be offensive to others who may not share your same views, beliefs or sense of humor.
• If your home is crowded with too much furniture, consider putting some things into storage.
• If a room needs a fresh coat of paint, use a neutral off-white.
• Make your house a no-smoking zone and clean any areas stained by smoke and nicotine.

Remember, cosmetic changes do not have to be expensive. In fact, costly home improvements do not necessarily offer a good return on your investment when you sell. It's attention to the basics-anything that says "this home has been carefully maintained"-that will help you get the price you want.

Setting a Fair Price

Naturally, you want to get top dollar for your home. But, at the same time, you don't want to scare off potential buyers with a price tag that's too high. Setting an artificially high price may cause your property to languish on the market for months. Reducing your asking price later on may lead buyers to wonder if there is something wrong with your home. Here are some of the factors to consider in pricing your home:

• Your location
• Economic conditions
• Supply and demand in the local housing market
• Seasonal influences
• Local schools
• Average home prices in the neighborhood
• Your home's extras -- hot tub, fireplace, central air, etc.

To determine the value of your home, I will prepare a market analysis for you. A market analysis shows the recent selling prices of several neighborhood properties comparable to your own. We then adjust for the unique features of your own property.

Qualifying a Buyer

It is important to quickly weed out potential buyers who cannot really afford to purchase your home. A number of factors will help determine whether or not you are wasting your time negotiating a sale.

• The buyer's debt and credit history
• The buyer's current income and employment
• The buyer's cash position and availability of a down payment
• The length of time the buyer needs before closing on your home
• How interested the buyer appears to be in your home versus others

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About Mary Stephens
Buying or selling real estate in Alaska, you need to know that your Realtor is committed to your real estate needs.

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