8 Ways to Make a Home Sell Faster!

Simple fixes and staging practices can focus buyers' attention in the right places and keep them from getting sidetracked by personal items in the home.

Here are some staging suggestions from Deborah Ehrlich-Layne of Staging Plus in Tampa, Fla., Handyman Matters, and HGTV's The Stagers.

Eliminate countertop clutter. A countertop covered with small appliances and utensils looks crowded, not spacious.
Pack up the too-personal. Don't leave toiletries on the counter. Stash family photos.
Be prepared for snoops. Prospective buyers pull open drawers, look in closets and peek behind the shower curtain.
Make sure things work. Dripping faucets, burned-out light bulbs, and squeaking hinges detract from the home's appeal.
Think "white-glove clean." Mop, dust, vacuum, clean baseboards, wash windows. Make sure the house looks fresh and smells neutral.
Make sure the front door is clean and the hardware polished. Power-wash walkways.
Store furniture that makes rooms feel crowded.
Show every room for the kind of room it is. Maybe you've turned your formal dining room into a home office. Get rid of the desk and computer, and bring back the dining table and chairs.

Source: The Dallas Morning News (09/05/08)

Richmond Virginia Real Estate - Good time or bad time?

With all the "good news" and "bad news" that we see on in the media about today's economy, it is hard for the homeowner to decide if now is the time to buy and/or sell real estate. We are often asked, by homeowners who want to move up or move down to a different home, if now is the right time to sell and purchase.

The fact is, regardless of market conditions, if you want to purchase a "move-up" or "move-down" home, there is no wrong time to do so. If the market is extremely active, you will get a premium price for the home you are selling and the active market will demand that you also pay a premium price for the home you purchase. If the market is very slow, you will have to accept a reasonable price for your home but you will find less competition when purchasing your new home. You sell at a reduced price but you also purchase at a reduced price.

When selling a home to buy another, there is no bad timing. In a good market you sell and buy with inflated dollars. In a slow market you sell and buy with deflated dollars. You really don't gain or lose in either situation.

Now is a great time to buy and sell real estate.