Simple Solutions to Selling in a Buyer's Market

While there are many people who will tell you that there is some sort of "magic" formula to selling in this kind of market, the oldest strategies still hold true. When selling in a buyer's market, sometimes the simplest, cheapest options are the best to secure a sale. Cleaning the house, clearing away clutter and neat landscaping are three ways you can make your house stand out.

Removing clutter that distracts the eye from the home itself will aid you in showcasing your home. Rent a storage locker and store such pieces of furniture that interfere with the best impression your home can give. Try storing your packing boxes in an unobtrusive part of your home if you can't get them out to a storage facility. If your home is smaller, think spacious and minimalist - less furniture will give your prospective buyers the impression that there is more space.

It may pain you, but remove personalized things from the immediate viewing area. The refrigerator should be clear of pictures, the walls clear of family photos. This helps a buyer to better imagine your house as "theirs". Tell yourself and your family that the new home can be personalized to your heart's content, but for now, a more neutral setting is needed to produce the effect you want.

Cleanliness is one of the most effective selling techniques that you can utilize. A clean home sends a subtle message to the buyer that the home is naturally light, bright and sparkling. Clear windows that let in all the natural light possible sell homes much faster than dirt-streaked ones, covered by scrubby blinds or dingy curtains. Make your home surpass others of its kind by cleaning the seldom-seen and -used areas such as closet corners and basements. Surface cleanliness sends the message that the home is well-cared-for.

The outside of your home will benefit from a wash or paint, as will attention to details of the trim. A well-mowed lawn, tended garden and pruned trees and bushes will tell prospective buyers that you are serious with your home upkeep. While none of this is done without a significant outlay of time, money or both, the impression you are striving for is that of easy upkeep and a clean property. Clean and paint outbuildings and get rid of any junk that has been lying around. If there is a naturally messy place, such as a woodpile, you can at least see that the wood is neatly stacked, the area swept free of chips and sawdust and tools neatly and safely in their proper places.

Cleaning, de-cluttering and landscaping are three of the cheapest, most effective options you have for selling your home in a buyer's market. A home that is easy to navigate, that gleams with cleanliness and is attractively landscaped will be miles ahead of similar, but less well-cared-for, residences. by Tina Fountain