Trick or Treat?

Today is Halloween and I am sure that you have stocked your house with all those goodies that you will gladly hand out to kids when they come knocking. In many homes around the country, this scenario will not play tonight because so many people have lost or are about to lose their homes.
Today the Fed is expected to lower interest rates in an effort to save the slumping Real Estate market: some will benefit from this action and others will not.
Having seen their homes languish in the market, some sellers have resorted to unconventional means such as burying St. Joseph statue under the for sale sign or conjure St. Jude to assist them in selling their homes. There are less radical yet effective steps one can take in order to get their house sold quickly ans here they are:

1. Pricing: the single most important attribute for a quick sale is the asking price. Over pricing a home drives potential buyers away and keeps the property listed for a long time. I recommend that the seller invests in an actual appraisal before deciding to sell, keep, negotiate a short sale with the lender or give the property back to the lender. Walking away in the middle of the night is a non starter.

2. Condition: With so many houses to choose from, only the best kept stand a chance of attracting would be buyers. It is not a matter of spending huge sums of money when you do not have it, it's the little things that matter: well kept lawn, working utilities, uncluttered walls, brightly lit basements and clean back yards.

3. Amenities offered: Is there room in your price to assist the buyer with closing costs? Would you part with the appliances and how soon can you move?

On this day when Halloween is celebrated, choose to treat yourself with a good dose of optimism. Don't get tricked into believing that your case is hopeless, there is so much that you can to to sell your home without loosing your mind.