House selling advice

[ceeveg]

Hi!

We're about to make the move from Tennessee to AZ for my husband's job, and are selling our first house. We've only lived in it for two years, unfortunately, and wonder what are some things we should consider when selling -- especially tips for selling a home at a distance.

Thank you!! Cee

[berry987]

I am not a real estate expert by any means, but I have sold a couple of houses. My advice - make is sparkle from top to bottom, declutter like crazy, and price it a little low. In this market, people see houses sitting and think they can get it for a steal. If it's priced a little low, you'll get a lot of interest and might even get more than one offer.

Hopefully some actual real estate professionals will pipe in, though!

[Fuamami]

I'm not a realtor, either, but have sold two houses. Your realtor should help you with pricing, but if they don't mention it, it's a good idea to price it at the "99" price because then when people search in a certain price range it will get hits. For example, if you are pricing it at 170,000, actually price it at 169,900 and the search criteria will pick it up.

I agree with making it sparkle. Also, make sure your closets are relatively empty and accesible. All your light bulbs should be working. Neutral paint is a cheap fix to brighten up dingy rooms.

If you're hiring a realtor, make sure they're working for you. They should be in contact with you at least weekly, they should be listing it in online and in all the realtor magazines, and they should be including it on the realtor tours.