Remind them "Presentation is everything!"

At times the sellers themselves thwart the efforts of the Real Estate Agent. Nothing can be quite 
as frustrating as trying to pull all the weight when someone else is adding to the burden by
being uncooperative!

If you have a seller who is not making sure their home is presentable to a potential buyer, remind
them that, in a competitive market with more inventory than we've seen in some time, presentation
is everything! By eliminating points the potential buyer may find fault with and bringing out the
positive amenities, they are more likely to sell the home and get the price they are asking for. Here
are just a few tips that will help them support your efforts as their representative in the transaction:

Let There Be Light. Buy some 100-watt bulbs to brighten the rooms, and open curtains or blinds
to let light in. Unless a window faces a brick wall or some type of eyesore, open the drapes!

Garage, Not Garbage. Have a garage sale to clean out the clutter and make the garage
more spacious. Your clients are moving and will need to start organizing anyway, so why wait until
the last minute? Clean up oil spots in the garage or carport with a good cleanser to remove that
"lived-in" appearance. The home may not be brand new, but it's new to the potential buyer.

Make Scents. Get a nice potpourri air freshener, or keep some refrigerated cookie dough on hand
to throw in the oven when a prospect is coming over. Make the house smell like a home.

Paint-relief. Consider re-painting any areas that need to be touched up, especially the front door
and entryway, and any appliances that are showing their age.

Power Plants. Trim down any jungles outside, especially if they cover the house. Get rid of any
half-dead houseplants. Water the lawns briefly before any visit, and k eep the lawns mowed and edged.

The Price is Right. Price may be a sensitive issue, but with increased inventories and declining
home values in many neighborhoods, remind your clients that every shopper in a buyers' market
is determined to get the best deal possible. Let them know that now is a good time to compare
their house with others on the market in the same area, because the right price is the one thing that
will sell their house faster than anything else.

The World is Your Stage. Professional staging can help to showcase the best side of a home,
create more interest, and get your clients top dollar. With increased inventories, staging could
provide the competitive edge you need.

These tips were derived from 33 Ways to Sell Your Home Fast!, an info-marketing booklet I use as
part of my campaign to market my services to FSBOs. In many cases, people who are attempting
to sell their own home eventually become frustrated and end up seeking out a professional Real Estate Agent.