Gone are the days of selling homes with unmade beds, dishes in the sink and toys scattered throughout. Today's homes must be spotless and resemble a model home; the extra effort will payoff.

• Before you begin to prepare your house for sale, examine the home from a stranger's viewpoint. Ask a friend to help, who might be more removed from your attachment.

   

• Consider spending money on improvements, fixing things that don't work and making repairs before selling to improve your profit.

   

• Do not underestimate the power of home staging. It can mean the difference between selling now for more money or not at all.

   

• Pets in the home present its own set of challenges. It's harder to sell a home where pets live.

Marketing Your Home as a For Sale By Owner

With the money you aspire to save over hiring an agent, spend a big chunk on advertising. Figure out your target audience and get the message to them.  But fair warning.  New and Veteran REALTORS who are determined Determined agents will discover your advertising and call beginning at 8:01am to

• Choose several or all of these house marketing tips, from how to do photographs, print advertising, direct mail and eflyers to hosting tours.

   

• All marketing should be geared toward making your phone ring and increasing traffic to your home.

   

• Avoid marketing mistakes by being flexible with showings, offering incentives to buyers and obtaining buyer feedback.

   

• Seasonal sales require unique approaches. The way you would sell in spring is very different than selling in winter.

   

• If you decide to offer a commission to selling agents, you will want to put a lockbox on your premises for easy access by agents when you are not home.

   

• Follow these tips for how to hold an open house, and remember that in some areas, Saturdays are just as popular as Sundays.

   

• Hire a good photographer to shoot a virtual tour with at least two to four spins of your house, and advertise the virtual tour link in your marketing materials.