How to Sell Your House in a Soft Market

In most areas of the country the home sales market is "soft," which means there are more houses for sale than families looking for new homes. Give yourself a big advantage when putting your house on the market by following these simple tips:

First, do research on your neighborhood. Find out for what prices houses similar to your home sold.

Take a critical look at your "curb appeal." Does your house need a fresh coat of paint? Are your shrubs and plantings overgrown and need replacing? Something as simple as washing all the windows inside and out can make a big difference to prospective buyers' first impressions of your house.

Expressive colors like purple for your teen's room are fun, but people looking at your home won't see the charm. If you have any "unusual" paint schemes in your home, you can quickly and cheaply change things to a neutral, prospective client friendly neutral color.

Are your light fixtures from another era? This is another inexpensive way to put some punch in your rooms. If your dining room chandelier is right out of the 1970s, you can change the look of the whole room by changing it for less than $200.

The kitchen is THE seller of the home. No matter how nice the rest of the house may be, if the kitchen isn't up to snuff, people will not buy your house. Any improvements made in the kitchen will come back to you when the offers for your home come pouring in. One thing most people love is a kitchen that has a lot of light. A convenient floor plan is also important, as are cabinets and plenty of countertop space. Before upgrading your kitchen, get an idea of what is the norm in your neighborhood. If most the homes in your area have laminate countertops, installing expensive granite isn't going to increase the sale price of your home.