Sell Your House Fast in a Buyer's Market: Quick Flips Make Great First Impressions

Selling a home - any priced home - in today's buyer's market can be tricky, scary, frustrating and maddening. But, it really can be done in the same length of time it takes to sell a home in a seller's market. There are certain "tricks of the trade" that seasoned real estate agents know. Unfortunately, there are a lot of agents out there who still don't have a clue as to what it takes to get a "SOLD" sign in the seller's front yard. Do some homework, and you can be successful in your endeavor.

The first "trick" is for the seller to be totally in tune with reality. Market direction changed two years ago. Gone are the days of a Seller setting a price and having multiple Buyers bid on the property within a two-three day period. Sale prices are now most often equivalent to the local city tax assessment - sometimes even less than the latest assessment. Sellers also need to realize that regardless of what price they list a property for, a qualified Buyer will likely offer a significant amount less than the list price - regardless of the location of the property or the financial solidity of the buyer. Know your bottom line in advance.

Curb appeal = first impression. If your property doesn't have curb appeal, good luck getting a serious buyer to the front door. While it's true that curb appeal alone won't usually bring in an offer, it is enough to either encourage or dissuade a Buyer from taking the second step - actually walking through the front entrance. Go stand in the street. Does your property stand out from others on the block in a positive way? Is there color, besides green? Do your plants look alive, or are they drying up from the heat? Does your house look like it's in good condition? Curb appeal is a lot like a dustjacket on a book. There is a lot to be said for judging a house by its appearance.