Irrespective of whether you sell the house on your own or with a real estate agent, you surely will want to smarten the house before the potential buyers come to inspect or simply to see it.
Try to objectively look at the impression your house makes on an observer. Does it look a little bit worn out or cluttered. The following tips may be useful for improving the look of the house:
 • paint the walls, floor or any other parts of the house if necessary;
• tidy up;
• remove unnecessary furniture from all the living and bed rooms into the attic or basement (temporarily; later you will have to get rid of it completely);
• take away some of your personal items like family pictures and others;
• mow the lawn;
• bring to order flower beds, plant flowers (if it is the right season).
While the tips may seem obvious and minor, they can add a lot to the eventual price of the house.
If you don’t feel competent in such things, you may turn to the so-called home “stagers” for help. They specialize in preparing houses for showings. Of course, it means extra expenses, but fewer concerns.
Deciding on the price of the house is another important and essential aspect. The right pricing may mean the quick deal. When evaluating your house, forget about all the reparations you did to it, how much it cost when you bought it, or how much money you need to move into the new house. The only thing which matters when setting a price for your home, is how much comparable homes cost in your area, which in the end may be more or less than you expected.
Your previous market research as well as the recommendations of the professional real estate agent are the key factors for determining the right price. In addition, seller’s market situation, when the houses are sold in 1 or 2 week periods, may allow you to make your price a little higher, while the buyer’s market may force you to reduce your desirable offer. In the latter situation, if you overestimate your house in the beginning, it may push off some of the potential buyers.
The final precautions should be taken after receiving the bid. First, consult the broker about the right way to respond to the bid. Then, make sure that your lawyer or agent checks all the contingency clauses of the bid. For instance, it is not recommended to agree to sell your home with the contingency that the buyer must first sell his or her own home. Besides, time restrictions should be given to all the contingencies (house inspection, closing date, etc.).
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