Condition and price. Let's tackle these two issues and see what we can do to get you on your way.

Condition: Whether you have a modest home or a mansion, it's guaranteed to sit longer if it's not clean and de-cluttered. That's the basics. The problem is when your home has been on the market for a while, it's easy to fall back into old habits and let things go a bit. Dollar for dollar you can't beat fresh paint and elbow grease. Whether you do this chore yourself or hire professionals, you need to address this number one priority.

At the minimum, paint the public areas of your home with pleasing neutral colors. That includes the bath and kitchen, as well as the foyer and living room. Forget about your personal tastes. Neutralize everything so the potential buyer doesn't have to use their imagination. When a buyer walks in, they should be met with a home that looks, feels and smells clean and new. This same attention should be paid to the exterior, also.

Price: Here comes the tricky area. Sellers often get stuck with how much they want to see on that bottom line at the closing table. That dollar sign represents how much can be used for a future home. And it represents an emotional element. The more your house is worth the more successful you are as a homeowner.

Here's another way to look at things. The longer your home is on the market, the more time you lose for enjoying your future home. If a job or other life change necessitates an early move, your home will sit vacant. You will then be making two payments, one on your old home and one on the new one. And buyers are prone to ignore a home that has been sitting too long. The assumption is there must be something wrong.

If your goal is 'sold,' do some serious soul searching. Are there incentives you can offer, such as help with closing costs? Would a change in price help you achieve your goal? Take a tip from retailers who are faced every day with getting their products off the shelf and into your hands. Packaging and price are the two factors. If the product looks great, is priced right and does the job, you can consider it sold!

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