Phoenix MLS: Selling Your Home in a Buyer's Market

Is it a buyer's market? We've all read it; more homes on the market and homes remaining on the market longer. But prices are in conflict. I've read an equal number of reports that prices are down, vs. prices are holding and in some areas even rising. So if you're interested in selling your home, even if prices are holding, you might ask, "How will I get my house to sell knowing there is a lot of competition?"

There is no stock answer, but you certainly can improve your odds. It's a fair adage to say that really nice looking and functioning homes, priced fairly, will always sell. They will. Understand we are just talking about family home buyers, not investor buyers, not bottom dwellers, not the home buyer who is looking to pinch pennies and is looking for a "fix-up". Okay, so we are going to market your home to the average, two adult and 2.3 child family.

First, especially with a lot of competition this make believe family is going to be looking for a house that is "move-in" ready. The less they have to do, to picture themselves living and enjoying your house, the better chance you have that they will make you an offer. Understand that sentence. You want to get your home into condition that a buyer says to himself, "all I have to do is move in the furniture". The Phoenix MLS is loaded with homes these days so the more your home looks like it came out of Homes and Gardens magazine, the more the buyer is going to like it.

So, whether you live in Phoenix, Ahwatukee, Chandler, Gilbert or Tempe, or some other part of the country do the following. 1) Stand across the street and look at your home with a buyer's eye. What looks great and what doesn't. Correct/change all that doesn't including the yard, walkway, front door, front door hardware, roof, gutters, driveway, garage door. Whatever needs painting, have painted. Whatever needs fixing, or cleaning, or landscaped, just do it. 2) Walk the side and rear yards. Is there a broken down tool shed? Remove it! Does the rear patio or porch need painting, paint it. Are the rear and side yards mowed, watered, looking great? If not, you know what to do.