Price it right from the start. The first 30 days’ activity of your house being on the market is always the best activity you’re going to see. Sellers often think they should start the asking price high and then lower it later if the house fails to sell. But that can result in a slower sale – sometimes even at a lower price.
Online Marketing tools.Make sure your listing is on the major on line portals (Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, and social media) 92% of home buyers start their house hunt online, and they will never even get in the car to come see your home if the online listings aren't compelling. In real estate, compelling means pictures! A study by Trulia.com shows that listings with more than 6 pictures are twice as likely to be viewed by buyers than listings that had fewer than 6 pictures.
Posting a video love letter about your home on YouTube. Get a Flip-Cam and walk through your home AND your neighborhood, telling prospective buyers about the best bits – what your family loved about the house, your favorite bakery or coffee shop that you frequented on Saturday mornings, etc. Buyers like to know that a home was well-loved, and it helps them visualize living a great life there, too. Read more: 13-Moving thing to keep in mind
Facebook Your listing. Facebook is the great connector of people these days. If you have 200 friends and they each have 200 friends, imagine the power of that network in getting the word out about your house!
Enhance your home’s curb appeal. Stage the exterior with fresh paint, immaculate landscaping and even outdoor furniture to set up a Sunday brunch on the deck vignette. Buyers often fantasize about enjoying their backyards by entertaining and spending time outside.
Access is essential. Homes that don’t get shown don’t get sold. And many foreclosures and short sale listings are vacant, so they can be shown anytime. Don’t make it difficult for agents to get their clients into your home – if they have to make appointments in advance, or can only show it during a very restrictive time frame, they will likely just cross your place off the list and go show the places that are easy to get into.
Check into your competition. Work with your agent to get educated about the price, type of sale and condition of the other homes your home is up against. Attend some open houses in your area and do a real estate reality check: know that buyers that see your home will see those homes, too – make sure the real-time comparison will come out in your home’s favor by ensuring the condition of your home is up to par.
Clean, declutter and depersonalize. The fewer things there are in the home, the larger it will look, so remove knickknacks and excess furniture. Also take down family photos, religious items and political posters so prospective buyers can envision their family in the house, not yours. Finally, you may want to hire a cleaning service to do a deep cleaning.
Remove your pets and remove their dog dishes and cat litter boxes (or at least hide them). If possible, a prospective buyer shouldn’t even know that a pet lives in the home.
Listen to your agent. If you find a good real estate agent to list your home, listen to their recommendations! Find an agent you trust and follow their advice as often as you can.