One of the main reasons properties become hard to sell is the avarice of home owners demanding an unreasonably high price not in conformity with prevailing market conditions. Some sellers knowingly price their homes/properties significantly higher than market value on the pretext that it will provide them extra elbow room for negotiating with prospective buyers. They fail to understand that overpricing will completely eliminate all likely buyers.

Demanding a fair price for your property is one of the keys to quickly and successfully complete the sale. If your objective is to sell your home quickly and save on real estate commissions, then fix a realistic price comparing your home with similar homes for sale in your area. If you are still unsure how to price your home, consult a local real estate appraiser or ask a real estate agent to provide a Comparative Market Analysis or CMA. Most agents will provide this service for free, if you agree to list with them.

List the repairs and improvements you need to compulsorily carry out to make your home fit for sale. If the house needs a new roof to keep the rain out, then by all means, that is a critical repair that needs to be done on priority basis before selling your home. But do not needlessly undertake avoidable repairs and modifications that may not enhance the sale value of your home. Most buyers cannot visualize changes and will not be forthcoming to buy your house if the first impression is not appealing. Those who can visualize changes and are prepared to undertake repairs on their own will expect you to substantially reduce the sale price of the house to compensate them for the improvement work.

You must, without a second thought, undertake all minor improvements like - pressure wash dirty siding and dingy decks, repaint and repair minor defects in exterior structure, clean the windows and gutters and keep sidewalks and driveways clear, clean the windows and gutters and keep sidewalks and driveways clear, make sere the house number is clearly visible from the street, replace or still preferably replace the mail box with a new one, arrange for a new and attractive welcome door mat, remove any vegetation if grown between concrete sections and bricks, Mow the lawn and get rid of weeds, rake and stray leaves etc.

Make it a point to keep pets out of the house and off the property during buyer inspections. If you think your house has any unpleasant odors, take steps to remove them immediately as prospective buyers will summarily reject houses that stink. An attractive, well-maintained home will generally sell faster and for a higher price than a similar home that looks drab or run-down. When you prepare your home for sale, take a critical look inside and out. Keep everything from the floors to the walls to the windows perfectly spotless. Clean light fixtures and all other electrical fittings and appliances such as the oven, refrigerators, microwaves etc.

Make your sanitary ware and bathroom fittings to glisten. When showing your home to potential buyers, switch on all the lights, even if it is midday. Buyers like homes that are bright and airy and so having the lights on helps. Lift all curtains and window shades and if weather permits, keep the windows open for fresh air. Internet advertising is becoming indispensable when selling your own home. Recent studies show, last year over 70% of home buyers searched on the internet before buying and it is estimated that that number will further increase in coming years. With large number of houses coming up regularly for sale, it is easy to see that competition is getting fiercer. So, the better prepared you are, the better and faster you can expect to sell your home.