Sellers ready to list your home for sale: current trends for market prep may surprise you

For several years the big thing was "staging" and although it is still very important that the home's interior shows well and uncluttered, there are other priorities now. Sellers must be ready, willing and able to compete with foreclosure properties in their area. If your home is unable to attract the average buyer in your area and price range, it's pretty easy to guess what the outcome will be - days on market without showings, no offers and no sale, lots of frustration.

Most buyers are looking for a foreclosure - they want to get a great deal. It's basic human nature - even if it is not always the case, buyers are going to explore this market thoroughly before making their purchase decision. Most buyers believe that if they consider owner occupied properties they won't get the best value. That's not always the case - at least, it doesn't have to be.

In large part the banks made this mess - don't let them control our market - wouldn't it be great if owner occupied sellers took back control of the seller market to the extent that banks have to compete with you!

Sellers in today's market need to understand that in order to be competitive and sell, you have to cater to the market - the home needs to be priced competitively - the unfortunate reality for homeowners is that foreclosure and short sale comparative sales data does matter. Appraisers are no longer able to exclude these sales in evaluating a property for a lender or buyer.

Here's a short list of priorities for sellers to consider when preparing for market:

1. Price competitively - overpriced homes don't show and even if you were fortunate enough to get a contract, it may not appraise.

2 Curb appeal - If a buyer is going to consider seeing an owner occupied property right now, it will only be because that home just looks so great and seems priced right. Buyers begin their search online and that "front of house" picture either pulls them in, or they continue surfing. Same thing for buyer agents on the MLS - there is so much inventory that choices have to be made. Make sure that in your area, and in your price range, your home is a standout from the curb. Fresh mulch around shrubs and in flower beds; trimmed hedges, manicured lawn, no siding or paint issues, a roof in good shape with no stains or missing shingles, power wash the drive and walkways if they look old or moldy, gutters in good shape, sparkling clean windows (remove the screens and store in attic), pleasing entrance - no cobwebs and clean the front door, etc.

3. Minimal decor - move out extra furniture; clean the carpet, fresh paint in a neutral color throughou the home, declutter BIG TIME, go ahead and pack for the move and donate items that you don't plan to keep. Clean the appliances really well - foreclosure appliances are either non-existent (which equals immediate cash outlay to a buyer), or they are really nasty most of the time. The added bonus from this prep is that it will be easier to keep your home "show ready!"

4. Make the home "move in ready" - many buyers who want to explore foreclosures ultimately decide that many of them require too much work. It's not alot of fun to close on a new home and ask your friends and family to stay away until you are able to replace carpet and paint the pink, orange and purple walls. In the first time buyer price range, many buyers won't have extra cash to do the things that would be necessary to bring a foreclosure up to snuff.

This is the real advantage that an owner occupied property has in our current market - with a little prep, you can present your home as move in ready and have a housewarming party the following weekend!

Best of luck for a quick and profitable sale!