Every homeowner who has spent time, effort, and money buying and maintaining their home naturally wants the very best return on investment when they finally decide to sell. We get it! This is likely your biggest asset.

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But what you think your home is worth might not be what the current housing market supports. Take a moment to digest this and adjust accordingly: It might save you a ton of heartache on your home-selling journey. Homes don’t move as fast nor fetch as many bidding wars in most markets as they did a couple of years ago. Getting stuck on what your neighbor’s home sold for two years ago won’t help you today.

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Disclose everything

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You already know you have to disclose major facts about your home, such as how old the roof is or if your home’s ever suffered a flood. Yet other things to be honest Abe about might seem less obvious. Half-truths can range from property detail fudges, as in claiming you have a walk-in closet when you actually have a roomy closet you cannot quite stand up in, or bigger issues like not revealing you added that beautiful deck without a proper permit.

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There are important disclosure documents that you need to complete when listing your home:

• RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY AND OWNERS' ASSOCIATION DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

• LEAD-BASED PAINT OR LEAD-BASED PAINT HAZARD ADDENDUM (for homes build before 1978)

• MINERAL AND OIL AND GAS RIGHTS MANDATORY DISCLOSURE STATEMENT

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Prep Your House to Sell

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Seven seconds. That’s how long it takes a potential buyer to size up your home. That tiny time frame is why you hear the phrase “curb appeal” so often. But we get it when sellers think giving a home a face-lift takes too much time and money (lots of money).

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But you don’t have to paint the entire house to give it that shiny new vibe; you just need to work on certain rooms (think bathrooms and kitchens). And you can swap shelling out dough for elbow grease, throw open the curtains to bring in light, swab your hardwood floors with a wood restorer, and organize, organize, organize to show off your fabulous closet and pantry space and also taking professional photos and having a 3D walktrough.

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These days, it’s neither a buyer’s market nor a seller’s market. As a seller, you have to put in a bit more effort than other home sellers did a few years back. The good news? There are straightforward, doable strategies that are time-tested by decades of sellers.

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One of the best ways to get your home sold quickly is to accommodate showings whenever possible—even if they are last-minute. To make a pop-up showing less painful, have a destination—like a favorite coffee shop—already in mind when you have to clear out for an hour or two.

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That flexibility should extend to the offer and negotiating phase as well. You might not get the exact offer you want, but your real estate agent can help you make it up in other ways, perhaps by helping you figure out what you have to fix—or not—after the home inspection.

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Boost your curb appeal

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It may feel counterintuitive to work on the outside of your home as you get ready to sell. But when you keep up with lawn maintenance, pull weeds, fix the fence, power-wash the siding, and clean up the cobwebs, your property will stand out and really “wow” prospective buyers. Think back to the last time you drove around looking at houses for sale. If the house looked like it was in rough shape on the outside, most of the time, you probably didn’t bother to request a showing. Good curb appeal will draw buyers into your home. They will start to envision themselves playing basketball, grilling in the backyard, or relaxing on the porch. You want to help buyers fall in love with your house and curb appeal will help you do that.

 

Stage your home

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One of the most important real estate tips is staging your home. Key staging tactics involve placing furniture and throw pillows invitingly. You can also set a dining room or kitchen table. And placing a vase or two of fresh flowers around the home is a nice touch. The purpose of staging is to show buyers the home’s potential. You want all the main rooms – kitchen, dining room, living room, bathrooms, and master bedroom – to create the feeling that they are already home.