With the economy picking up and the jobs growth rate down to a 2 year low of  8.8, it seems the perfect time to pick up real estate. As of March large corporations are adding employees at the fastest pace since before the recession. The unemployment rate has fallen a full point in the last four months making it the biggest change since 1983.

Source:Rueters News March 31 2011 Associated Press April 1 2011

• 33% of the population is 35-54 years of age

• 46% of households have children

• 22% of the population is 55 years of age or over

1. Price it right. This is the number one most important step!That’s right. Skip it and the rest doesn’t matter! Don’t even read the other steps unless you follow this step! Pricing it right means pricing it to sell to todays buyers. These buyers are savvy. They want a good product at a fair price. I know, your neighbor got so and so for their house last year. This isn’t last year! This is now. So show them you’ve got what they want and be smart on the price. Have a qualified real estate agent show you market comparable properties to find out the best price that will sell your home fast. Don’t choose the agent who will market it at the highest price! Todays buyers know the market, they will not buy an over priced home and many will not bid any amount for it!They will pass on it and go to the next one. You have lost them before they even walked into your home!! Don’t go there!

2. Clean is King!These savvy buyers want a home they can move right into. That means clean. Clean walls, woodwork, windows, blinds, drapes, carpet and floors.  Bathrooms and kitchen have to sparkle. If you have to paint to get that fresh ,crisp look, do it! Paint is the cheapest fix-up there is with the most financial gain. Choose modern, light colors, don’t just paint it the same color it was. Move up with the times! Also, adding fragrances attracts people subconsciously. Purchase plug-in air fresheners that have fragrances like cinnamon, apple pie or vanilla. These inexpensive fragrances makes a home feel ‘homey,’  and buyers feel good. Remember, buyers are looking for a place to call home. Let’s give them plenty of reasons to feel special in yours. When they walk in you want them to say ’Wow’!

3. Remove Clutter. Be a Minimalist.  Why are model homes so inviting? Because no one lives in them! They don’t have the reqular items lived-in homes have, like toothbrush holders and coffee makers on the counter. I know it’s sometimes hard to do, but stashing stuff away is a must.  A good rule of thumb, to make your home look more spacious and clutter free, is to remove two-thirds of the items from the rooms and walls. You say ‘Thats alot’! It is. But it works!Personal items such as family photos are best put away so buyers don’t feel like they are in someones else’s domain. Equally important, remove unnecessary items from all the closets too and organize what’s left.  You want these to look spacious and roomy too. Store items you don’t use regularly in the garage or a storage unit and figure you’ve already started packing! The keepers like the coffee maker, put away in the cabinets when not in use.

4. Create drama at the entry to your home. Does your front door say ‘Welcome, you are special’ or does it say ‘I’m old and tired’? Sometimes just giving the door a fresh coat of paint in a modern color is all that is needed to revive it or if it’s really tired, consider replacing it with a new door. A nice door is a turn on and an ugly door is a turn off, it’s just that simple! If your door sticks and is hard to open, fix it! Remove the screen door if you have one and leave it in the garage for the buyers. Add a wreath or fresh potted flowers by the front door. Make sure the outside entry light is clean. You may want to replace it with a new modern one to enhance the appearance of your home. Remove spiders and webs, keep the front walk swept and bushes or low lying tree branches trimmed away from the front walk. First Impressions are Very Important!

5. Give Your Yard Curb Appeal! Flowers, Flowers and Flowers! Did I say Flowers? Being a Landscape Designer for 15 years, I know what works. In the ground or in pots, annual flowers are inexpensive and add pizazz! I like to choose a three color palette, and use these colors through out the back or the front. Figure out the feeling or look that you are trying to create. For ex: hot colors like yellow, orange and red says energy, excitement, happy.  Pink, blue and purple are more soothing colors. These cool colors make surroundings feel peaceful and tranquil, a place to escape to.  What kind of look do you want your yard to be? How about both? Use warm colors in the front and cool in the back. And while you’re at it, add a hammock and inexpensive plug in water feature for sounds to sooth the beast!

6. Last but not Least Make Your Home Easy to Show. Many folks forget this one, but it is as important as the rest if you want it to sell quickly. When an agent calls to show your home be flexible with showing times and days. Ask the agent to be sure and leave a business card. If possible, leave the house and take the dog for a walk before the buyers arrive. If you can’t do this, make sure the dog is locked up or at least outside and you leave. This makes the buyers feel more comfortable commenting and asking questions if the seller is not home. Plus they will stay longer. This is a good thing…remember we are trying to entice a buyer to buy your house.  Remember to turn on all the lights before you leave and give 30 minutes for the buyers to view your home.

Directions: Take Tips, stir with good attitude and grace. Swirl in a touch of elbow grease and creativity and Voila’, a delicious SOLD HOME!