A drop in home buyer activity helped trigger a noticeable decline in home prices between May and June, according to the latest Campbell/Inside Mortgage Finance Monthly Survey of Real Estate Market Conditions.  Download Report

But this may not be an option for many Stuart area sellers in this challenging economy. That said, here are some tips you may want to try on your own to show your home in its best light:

1. Try to see your home through the eyes of the buyer. That means looking at a room using the doorway as a frame to highlight its best features. Often, a prospective buyer won’t look beyond the doorway,  so it is important that the room is inviting. You will want to make sure it looks clean and neat. Remove excess furniture and keep floors free of any stacks or clutter to make the room as spacious as possible.

2. Decluttering is arguably the most important aspect of staging (and at no cost). Scrutinize every surface, including shelves and counter tops, ensuring that they are as clear as possible. Stow toiletries under the sink, and pack up personal photographs or keepsakes so buyers don’t get distracted by looking at them.

3. Consider replacing outdated, threadbare or otherwise unappealing furniture, fixtures or window treatments with low-cost temporary fixes.

4. Don’t forget the garage. Garages filled with boxes, tools and other items may be a turn off to buyers, especially when used as a catch-all from the rest of the house. Discard the junk and move the rest to a storage facility.

5. Clean. We are not talking about surface cleaning, which can still leave your home looking dingy. Deep cleaning carpets, upholstery and window treatments will improve the home’s appearance and remove lingering odors. Try using a Q-tip to clean around sinks, in corners and in other hard to reach places.

6. Each room should be light and bright. Clean windows and tie curtains back to let the light shine into the room. Lighten dark colors on the walls with inexpensive paint in neutral, light colors like white, off-white or light taupe. Paint can also be used to cover worn or outdated cabinets. Installing inexpensive new drawer pulls and cabinet handles can create a fresh new look for less than $100.

7. Repurpose rooms. Try moving items from one room to another. One room may be stuffed with furniture, while another could benefit from a great piece that can become a focal point. An extra mirror can make a room look bigger while an armoire from a over crowded bedroom can be used to store the television in a family room.

8. Accessorize. All-neutral rooms can be a bit boring. Add color with throw pillows and small accents like candles. Green is popular since it coordinates with most other colors without clashing.

9. Check your curb appeal. The outside of your home is just as important as the inside. Clean up the yard, trim hedges and weed flowerbeds. Remove dead plants, repair cracks in cement or asphalt, and power wash driveways and sidewalks. Have a look at your house from across the street to see things that need improvement.

Most of these tips require a small investment and can help sell your home in the shortest possible time and for the most money.

Why Newspaper Advertising is Obsolete
• Newspaper circulation is dropping .
• Newspaper classified ads provide limited information and low quality photos.
• Potential buyers are forced to call a real estate agent for information.
 

How Online Exposure Sells Homes
• Real estate websites are accessed by thousands of people from all over the world.  If someone is thinking about moving to Stuart, Florida, they will see your home featured on these sites.
• Quality photos of your home are displayed to guarantee that buyers from oversees, out of state or in the next town will see the best features of your home.
• An Internet REALTOR® will spend thousands of dollars and invest many hours in an effort to ensure his website performs well in search engines such as Google, Yahoo and MSN.

Managing Online Buyers
• Follow through by your Internet REALTOR® is essential when working with online buyers.
• Internet leads go stale in as little as an hour.  Internet buyers, especially gen X and gen Y users, will quickly move on to the next agent to get listing information.
• An Internet REALTOR® must have systems in place to capture and follow up on leads.  This may include a listing auto notification service, drip Email campaign or old fashioned phone calling.

When choosing an agent to list your home, find out how they market homes online.  Or simply Google one of their listing addresses to see if it is getting proper Web exposure.

How I market homes on the Web