The Naperville Real Estate Voice - Local Real Estate News and More...

Preparation can be the difference between a successful home sale and an unsuccessful home sale.

Ever wonder why some homes sell quickly, while others sit on the market for quite a while? What is it that makes one home more appealing to a buyer, while another is not.

Knowledge is power and being armed with the right information before putting your home on the market will make all the difference.

I have gathered tips from the top professionals in the field that share their experience of what it takes to have a successful home sale.

1. Choosing the Right Agent

Choosing the right agent is key in a successful home sale, find out how to make the right choice.

5 Steps in Choosing a Realtor to Sell Your Property by The Somer Team

What Constitutes a Great Realtor®? by Sally Cheeseman

2. Price

Price is so important, especially in our current market.

Contrary to popular opinion, the listing agent does NOT determine the market price! by Jason Crouch

Selling Your Home Does Not Have To Be A Mystery! by Bill Gassett

3. Condition

A Tale of 2 Stages by Craig Schiller

Saving Money on Home Renovations is Easier Than You Think by Margaret Woda

Which Way Does Your Crack Run... by Michael Thornton

4. Marketing

Having an online presence is key.

Attention Scottsdale Sellers: Your Home Goes Here! by Paul Slaybaugh

5. Working as a Team

How Inaccurate Home Disclosures Can Come Back to Bite You by Lisa Heindel

The Magic Formula for a Smooth Transaction by Sally Cheeseman

I hope you have enjoyed reading these tips as much as I have. The advice will lead you to a successful home sale.

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Maria Mastrolonardo is a Realtor Associate with RE/MAX of Naperville and has been assisting home-buyers and home-sellers since 1997.  Maria can be reached at (630) 248-6077 or email: mmastrolonardo@remax.net

Servicing the towns of: Naperville, Aurora, Lisle, Plainfield, Bolingbrook, Warrenville, Wheaton, Woodridge or other surrounding areas.

Now that you have decided to sell your home, there are a few things you can do to make your home more appealing to buyers in today's market. Look at your home through the eyes of a buyer, highlight its strengths, focus on its features and bring out its best.

1.  Order a pre-sale inspection - A qualified home inspector will be able to determine if your home has any trouble areas that you can address prior to listing your home for sale. Your home will stand out from others when buyer's know that an inspection has been completed.

2. Make appropiate repairs - Not any major improvements but perhaps you have been meaning to fix that small crack or repair the broken screen, now would be the perfect time to attack those small projects.

3. Neutralize your decor - a few gallons of paint is a low-cost way to polish up your home's appearance. Neutral colors suggest newness and cleanliness.

4. Un-clutter - By removing clutter you a doing one of two things. First you are getting a jump start on packing, by packing your least-used items now, you'll have less to do later and secondly removing clutter will highlight the spaciousness of your home.

5. Remove family photos - When preparing to sell your home, it's important to remove your personal items to make your house a home that future buyers can make into their own home.

6. Wash your windows and screens - This will help get more light into your home's interior.

7. Upgrade your interior lighting - Another low-cost way to give your home an updated appearance.

8. Make the bathrooms feel luxurious - Put away the old towels and personal toiletry items and add a new shower curtain, new towels, candles or potpourri.

9. Spruce up the exterior - Trim bushes so they don't block your home's features, plant flowers, repair any cracks in the driveway, upgrade your outside lighting.

10. Owner's manuals and warranties - Gather up all the manuals and warranties for your appliances and have them in one convenient place for the future buyer.

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Maria Mastrolonardo is a Realtor Associate with RE/MAX of Naperville and has been assisting home-buyers and home-sellers since 1997.  Maria can be reached at (630) 248-6077 or email: mmastrolonardo@remax.net

Servicing the towns of: Naperville, Aurora, Lisle, Plainfield, Bolingbrook, Warrenville, Wheaton, Woodridge or other surrounding areas.