Try Home Staging

Staging a house means decora`ting and/or furnishing the interior and exterior of the home so that it is visually attractive to the widest range home buyers. Just because the arrangement of your house perfectly suiats your needs doesn't mean that it will appeal to most potential buyers. Buyers are greatly influenced by their first impression of the house - if they're turned off at first sight, they're less likely to buy. Potential homeowners that come through your door expecting a particular style might be quickly turned off if the house is cluttered or eccentrically decorated. Uncommonly decorated homes might cause a potential buyer to turn away. Reciprocall`y, a more neutral décor is likely to give a buyer a positive first impression.

Get Rid of Clutter - Less is Better

If you have too much décor, belongings and furniture in your house, it will make each room look smaller than it actually is. For example, simply removing one piece of furniture, like a bookcase in the living room, will make the room appear less cluttered and larger. It's important to remember that "less is better." Home buyers are looking for ever larger homes. Making your home appear bigger will increase the overall appeal of your home. In the kitchen, clear off all the countertops -- at the most, you might only leave the coffeemaker sitting out. This way you show that there are plenty of cupboards for everything and that there is sufficient counter space.

Showing Your House to Attract Buyers

Your real estate broker will always let you know before he is bringing a buyer to your house for a showing. However, it's it is very important to keep your house neat and ready to be shown to potential buyers. There are certain things that have to be followed when your house is listed and ready to show. Your agent might hang a lock box on the door to permit licensed real estate agents to show your house when you're not available.

Your agent might schedule an open house, so that buyers who are interested can tour your house without any appointments. Usually open houses are scheduled on afternoons during weekends. It is ideal that the sellers leave their house during open house. If buyers or any curious visitors drop by and want to check your house, note down their contacts and refer them to your agent. Avoid showing the home all by yourself without your agent there to represent you.

When your house is to be shown it is important that you follow the house selling procedures, it will turn your house best when an agent shows it to potential buyers! Use the following information and see that the house is all set before being shown. Firstly switch on all the lights; this is including light at the entrance. Turn it on even during the day. Turned on lights will brightens the dim areas and avoids harsh shadows caused by sun’s light.

Switch off your television, take your companion animals with you or request your friend to have them when buyers visit. Set out some nice fresh flowers; include some good clean towels with neat tablecloths, if it suits to your decor. It is best to leave the property when your real estate agent brings a buyer to your home. This permits the buyers to take his or her time going through the property and feel more comfortable clearing doubts and asking questions. If you stay back, see that you’re polite and let the agent handle the questions, unless you’re questioned directly.

Avoid using room sprays or air refreshers; the smell or scent might cause an allergic reaction to some people. A potpourri would give off more natural smell. Try placing a drop of vanilla essence on the stove burner and switch it on for a second to give off a ‘freshly baked cookies’ smell. Don’t forget to empty your kitchen trash, even if they are placed under the sink. Keep beds made in all the bedrooms. Open all curtains and draperies to allow some natural light to enter. Get rid off old magazines, newspapers, empty glasses and other miscellaneous stuffs which are tend to left behind. Keep your floors swept or mopped and vacuum your carpet if it is necessary.

Home Buying Tips

The Internet has made the house-hunting process quicker and easier by putting a wealth of information at your fingertips. Literally. But many home buyers don't realize the many ways that web technology can help them. So let's take a look at some of the ways you can use the Internet to simplify your home search process.

The second type is part of the new generation of web-savvy real estate professionals. This agent knows the value of the Internet, and is "wired" into all of the major home-search websites, among other things. This agent can help you find and research properties more quickly by using the power of Internet technology. He or she is pretty handy with digital cameras, mobile devices, and other useful tools as well.

2. Use the Big Home-Search Websites

Over the years, real estate search engines have exploded both in quantity and complexity. These days, you can visit one of these websites and gain instant access to local property listings, recent sales data in your area, and more. This is an excellent way to screen houses before you visit them, which can save a lot of time.

For example, if you only saw a black-and-white photo of a home in the newspaper, you wouldn't know what the inside rooms looked like. You would have to visit the property to find out. These days, however, you can use virtual tours and photo galleries to preview nearly every corner of a house. If it doesn't match your needs, you don't waste your time with a visit. Now that's using technology to your advantage!

3. Use Your Local Newspaper's Website

Most city newspapers have an online version of their news as well. For example, here in Austin, Texas, I can visit the Austin-American Statesman website to get information about the local real estate market, homes for sale, new subdivisions being built and more. Sure, the Sunday paper has a lot of this information. But why wait until Sunday?

4. Read Local Real Estate Blogs

Many real estate agents and companies have begun to use blogs as a way of publishing information online. A blog is like a website, only the information is presented in chronological format like a daily journal. Many agents use their blogs to publish updates about the local market, new homes they have listed and more. An agent's blog is almost always more up-to-date than the main website. So they can be a good source for timely real estate info in your area. You can find them by doing a Google search for your city name plus "real estate blogs."

5. Use Your Email Network

Do you know a lot of people who live in the area where you want to buy? Friends, family and coworkers perhaps? If so, send them an email to let them know you're looking for a home in the area. If they see homes for sale in that area, they can email you about them. Essentially, you are creating your own house-hunting "army" to help you stay on top of things.

This can be especially useful in a hot market where homes sell fast. For example, imagine the following scenario: