Tips for Selling a Home in a Changing Market

An experianced home inspector provides tips for selling your home in a changing market.

West Paterson, New Jersey (PRWEB) August 1, 2006 -- Buyers and sellers alike are rapidly discovering the near vertical price rise of real estate in the past decade is no longer occurring. There have been more than a few slow downs in real estate price rises over the past decade but none where sales have fallen flat to down in many regions of the country.

Homeowner's have become use to setting a price on a property and waiting for buyers to beat down the door, frequently offering over asking price. That is not happening much any more.

Buyers were ignoring cosmetic defects. After a home inspection sellers in the up market were able to tell buyers they were fixing nothing and if the buyer did not buy the home there were plenty of back up buyers in line.

Prices have been staying very high with few if any real price reductions. If sales continue to slow price decreases are inevitable.

What is a seller who wants their home to sell faster and for a higher price to do?

The same things people use to do when they sold a home before the market got crazy.

First of all the cosmetics. Clean the house. Not just clean it like you usually do but really clean it. Get a storage unit and really clear out the clutter, getting rid of old furniture and excessive storage. Make sure you wash down the walls, ceilings, doors and trim. Paint the interior and exterior of the home. Make sure the exterior of the home is in absolute tip top shape and ready to show.

Many people who have been in the same home for years have grown accustomed to the look of the home and do not realize that components of the home are worn, dated and could use some freshening up.

Hiring a home inspector to go through your home with you can also be a great benefit. Many homeowners are truly not aware of problems that have occurred inside boilers, furnaces, electric panels, crawl spaces or damages that are being caused by insects such as termites and carpenter ants. These problems will surely crop up anyway and may turn off a qualified potential buyer. It is better to get the problems out into the open so you have the opportunity to repair them before they become real issues later on.

Having a few area Realtors come into the home can provide a refreshing insight as to little changes that can make the home more salable. Do not hesitate to ask each Realtor who enters your home exactly what changes they think will make your home more salable. Tell them flat out you will not be insulted and listen to what they have to say.

The above was written by Michael Del Greco, President of Accurate Insepctions, INc, West Paterson, NJ and owner of http://www.NewJerseyHomeInspection.com

his resume is at http://www.MDelGreco.com

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