These are my 10 ten ideas for sellers to get their homes in top condition for a quick sale.

1. Make the Front Entrance SPARKLE!.

You need to make a great first impression! A coat of paint and a new brass kick plate or doorknocker says “welcome home”. Remove any personalized doorknockers or signs from the front of the home. Remember to trim bushes and shrubs and keep walkways clear. A blooming plant or festive wreath is a nice touch.

2. Organize the Kitchen.

Kitchens sell homesmake yours appear more large and inviting! Clean off counters and organize cupboards and drawers. Store or pack seldom used appliances and large pans. Consider replacing the counter if it is worn or has an unusual color. Repair or replace leaky kitchen faucets and dated florescent light fixtures.

3. Reduce Clutter Inside and Out.

Sort out E-V-E-R-Y-T-H-I-N-G! Throw away anything you do not need and organize the rest. Too much stuff? Consider an off-site storage facility during the move. Donate unwanted items to a local charity. Campers, boats and old cars should be parked at a different location.

4. Clean.

Your home should be spotless and smell clean too! Remember to give attention to the yard and garage too. Buyers want to see the size of your garage not where you dumped all the stuff from the house. If you have a dog, make certain that the yard has been picked up before every showing and it is completely free of debris.

5. Paint.

Light neutral colors make small rooms appear larger. That cute personalization you painstakingly painted on your child’s wall is a paint-over project to a new buyer. Do them a favor and paint over before the first showing. Remove dated wallpaper and borders and paint walls. Use premium quality paint and remember to patch holes properly and tape woodwork prior to starting. A sloppy paint job can be more detrimental to your bottom line than no paint job at all.

6. Update Bath.

If cleaning and painting cannot help a dingy bath, consider replacing vanity, counter and sink. Look at the faucets and light fixtures. If they are vintage, consider replacing. Also consider installing new flooring or buy nice plush floor mats to make the bathroom cozy. If the tub is nasty and stained, look into having it resurfaced.

7. Make Minor Repairs.

Tighten knobs, fix leaky faucets, oil squeaking hinges, replace dirty filters, repair cracked windows and holes in screens. If it can be fixed, fix it! Buyers do not pay top dollar for a “project house”.

8. Fix Roof Leaks.

One tiny water stain on the ceiling will cause a buyer to question the entire roof. Find and fix the leak at the source. This may be the time to call in an expert. Repair any ceiling damage. Disclose any information on repairs made to potential buyers.

9. Explain a Wet Basement.

Do what you can to make repairs but be prepared to explain all existing and repaired problems to the potential buyers. Never try to cover signs of a wet basement.

10. Exterminate.

Call a professional to get rid of the pests, repair any damage, and allow time for any pesticide smells to dissipate before showing. One bug, dead or alive, can make a bad impression on a buyer. If you have periodic mice, remove the traps and bait before showings. Again, disclose any pest infestations to potential buyers before the sale.

Copyright 2006 Teri Eckholm.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Teri Eckholm, Realtor
Keller Williams Premier Realty
http://www.terieckholm.com

Teri Eckholm is a native Minnesotan with nearly 20 years of sales and marketing experience. She grew up in a St. Paul suburb and working as a Realtor, she has serviced residents of the Twin Cities metro area for over five years. Teri has assisted hundreds of clients move from across town, across Minnesota and across the United States.

The total number of housing units in the county is 104,315. This number is increasing significantly each year. Several large developments are currently being underway in Lehi and American Fork. New construction can be seen everywhere. It is really an exciting time of growth for the Utah County. A majority of these units are owner occupied. Current estimates show that around 33,137 units are being rented. Utah County real estate is very popular among real estate investors due to the ease of renting in the area. There are several colleges, hair schools and dental hygiene schools in the area providing a large population of student renters. The 71,178 units that are owner occupied have an average monthly mortgage cost of $1,148. Due to the higher appreciation rates seen in other parts of the country those who relocate to Utah are able to buy a home that is much larger and newer than their pervious home. This is another reason for the amount of growth we are seeing in Utah County. Real estate here is a great buy.

Another reason Utah County real estate is so appealing is the low crime rate. An FBI report showed the Provo-Orem Area has the second-lowest rate of violent crime in the nation for the year 2000. Utah County is also very family-oriented. The average family size is 3.86, much higher than the national average. Large families and a high student population are responsible for the county’s low median age of 23.3 (the lowest county median age in the United States). This is a community of active young adults and young families.

Median income for a household in the county is $45,833, and the median income for a family was $50,196. Males had a median income of $37,878 versus $22,656 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,557. Over 12.00% of the population and 6.80% of families were below the poverty line. The poverty rate for the county is partially due to the large student population in the area. Also because of its younger population many haven’t been in the job long enough to receive raises. The lower income of the area makes buying Utah County real estate possible to everyone. Excluding Alpine City where the homes are large and luxurious. Alpine is know for its incredible real estate.
About 88% of Utah County residents are Latter-day Saints; this is probably the highest concentration of Saints in the world. The culture and lifestyle of the people here is unique and welcoming. Members of all faiths have found Utah County Real Estate not only a great buy and wise investment but also a cherished place to call home.

Mark Keller is an internet marketer for http://www.10xmarketing.com Learn more about Utah County real estate by visiting the http://www.lucidiagroup.com at http://www.lucidiagroup.com/Index.aspx

The outpouring of help that came from this situation was something that one has to experience at least once in a lifetime to renew one’s faith in humanity. Family, friends, friends of friends, even strangers, rushed to the rescue of not only my family, but members of countless other families in the face of this tragedy. Our gratefulness cannot be measured and the gifts of love will always be treasured.

But there was one act of kindness that was definitely surprisingand welcomed! There were 17 members of the family who had lost virtually everything. Of that number, five members were stranded in Mississippi without any means of transportation. They had fled their homes with almost nothing but the clothes on their backs. We had to get them to San Diego to my sister DiAnna’s home where they could try to pull their lives together. We just had to find a way.

Money was pooled together, thanks to the kind assistance of many generous people. We thought about the bus, but that wouldn’t work. They were not running. Then, my hardworking sister discovered another route: Delta Air Lines. She discovered Delta was discounting their flights for Katrina victims trying to get to the safety of their families. Whatever they could do would have been welcomed and my wife Lisa and I were prepared to make up the difference. They just had to find transportation to Jackson, which was 90 minutes away.

To our comfort, the Delta representativeMargaretwas an angel. Delta was able to discount their normal ticket fee by over 85%! That was more than anyone could have reasonably expected! After all, Delta is a business and their primary concern, as all businesses should be, is with profit. Their job is to deliver the best service at a profit. But in a disaster, when the choice came down to lives versus making a profit, they chose lives in this situation. I was impressed and there is definitely a moral and business lesson to be learned from their choice.

There is an old business adage that every salesperson has heard in seminars, sales meetings, and training courses: People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. I don’t think I will ever hear that phrase again without thinking about the kindness shown to us by Delta Air Lines. Sometimes, you have to put profit asideeven if partlywhen it is necessary to serve your customer. They will appreciate it and they will never forget it. Why? Because they know you care.

Thank you, Margaret and Delta Air Lines. You cared!

Lawrence D. Elliott has been a Realtor

1. Think Like a Buyer Buyers will look at your home with impersonal and calculated eyes. They won’t have an emotional attachment or your personal interests in mind when they make an offer. Regardless of weather the overall market favors the buyer or seller, the buyer will want your home at a fair market price. They are not considering how much you paid for the home, the value of the memories that you have in it, how much cash you need for to close on your next home, or how much time and money you have invested in your home’s landscaping, bathroom updates, painting or other improvements. When you first decide to sell your home, it’s no longer your home. It belongs to the buyer with the best offer for you. Emotional detachment from your home will help you see your home the way a buyer will be looking at it. Brush up on more selling advice.

2. Start with CMAs Invite a few real estate agents to work up a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) for your home. A CMA compares the price of homes recently sold, homes that were on the market but didn’t sell, and homes currently on the market to give you and your real estate agent an idea of how to price your home. Ask the agents why each particular home was included on their CMA. Have a list of questions and compare the answers you get from each agent. As you will find out, a CMA will show you varying prices for what each agent thinks your home is worth. Look for what seems to be a reasonable price. Some real estate agents will want to price your home below market value, looking for a quick sell or a bidding war. Some will overprice it looking to play on your hopes that your home is worth more than it really is, but an overpriced home will sit on the market longer and will likely need to be reduced later. Most real estate agents will provide you with a home value estimate or Comparative Marketing Analysis (CMA). It as good idea to find real estate agents who have plenty of experience pricing homes in the area, especially as the market turns to a buyer’s market.

3. Consider a Professional Appraisal A CMA will give you a good idea of the value of your home, especially if the agent is familiar with pricing homes in your neighborhood. However, for several hundred dollars that it usually costs to purchase a professional appraisal, the money could be well spent for several reasons. If the CMAs you get from real estate agents are not reasonably consistent, you might want to get an totally unbiased view point, one that you pay for. An appraisal of your home will make clear anything that may be wrong with your home and it adds an additional layer of assurance for prospective buyers. Appraisers rely on in-person inspections of your home, recent sales of like-homes in your area, and other data to arrive at their opinion of your homes’ value. The report you receive from an appraiser is more detailed than a common CMA. The appraiser’s report is a full-blown description of your home and the criteria used to formulate the valuation.

4. Research On Your Own You can research several ways. Stop by homes that are for sale in your area and pick up a flyer. Spend an hour or so on the Internet looking at homes in your zip code with the same square footage, bedrooms, and bathrooms. Finally, visit open houses around your home and make an impartial assessment of how those homes compare to your own in terms of condition, location, size, ages, and upgrades. As you visit the open houses, make an honest assessment. Given similar condition, age and square footage, would you buy your home or the home you are touring?

5. Price per Square Foot Some agents may want to price your home solely on price per square footage. While this is an industry standard way of calculating home prices, there are many other tangible aspects that go into your home’s price. The average price per square foot in your neighborhood should be the starting point for setting your home’s price.

6. Market Conditions Consider the overall housing market in your area. Are home prices moving up over time? How long do homes stay on the market before they are sold or withdrawn? Where are interest rates? Is the overall economy in your area and state strong or weak? Are employers hiring or are they overly cautious of bring on new employees? Are builders actively building new homes? Will you be entering a buyer’s market or a seller’s market.

7. Determine Your Selling Costs
There are many costs involved in selling your home. Don’t shy away from getting to the bottom line as this is essential information. Use a variety of mortgage calculators and financial calculators.

8. Flexibility and Options Both you and your buyer may have needs that go beyond the bottom-line. If you are willing to close escrow quickly, you will attract buyers who want to move in right away. A lease-option can help first-timers who need down payment assistance. If you can offer seller-financing, your home will appeal to buyers who need to stretch their financial resources. The more creative and flexible you can be in meeting the buyer’s needs, the more success you will have in pricing your home to sell. If your home has been on the market for a while, can you offer a point or two back to the buyer to help with closing costs or needed repairs.

9. Use a Discount Real Estate Broker There are many good reasons to use a good discount real estate broker. The obviously reason is that you keep more of your home’s equity, but in a buyer’s market, using a discount real estate broker gives you pricing flexibility and that gives you not only a cushion to negotiate but a distinct competitive advantage over the other homes on the market using full-commissioned brokers.

Jeff is the owner and partner of We List homes 4 Less, a full-service real estate broker in the Santa Clarita Valley. Jeff is a strong advocate of using the Internet to promote niche local business and pass the savings onto clients. Their site rates in the top 99.75% of all Websites according to Alexa, a traffic rating service owned by Amazon. Find more house selling advice and mortgage
calculators at We List Homes 4 Less.

Utah’s population growth of 29.6% more than doubled that of the nation (13.2%). Utah’s growth is attributed to natural increase (88%) rather than net in-migration (12%).Net in-migration occurred for the 13th straight year. Salt Lake City real estate is a growing market attracting more national attention than ever before. The large homes and the low prices are attracting home buyers from the rest of the country. Utah is one of the fastest growing states in the country and ranks 35th in the nation for population growth. The state’s rapid growth is attributed to both the area’s high birth rate and to in-migration. Utah’s population reached 2.5 million in late 2005, positive increases every year since 1990. The State of California continues to be the major source of the flow of migration to Utah. Employment-related migration accounts for the majority of population movement to and from Utah.

Overall, Utah is expected to continue to have the youngest population in the nation. Utah’s median age during 2005 is 27.1 years, well below the national figure of 35.2 years. Utah’s population is younger (27.1), lives longer (77.7), has higher fertility rates (2.68) and more persons per household (3.13 persons). Utah is number one in the nation in the number of persons per household at 3.13, compared to the national average of 2.62. In addition, Utah’s number of people per family is 3.67, compared to the national figure of 3.16. This is attributed to the Church of Jesus Christ’s belief in and support of large families!

Currently the median home price for available homes is $300,000 with homes ranging from an affordable $69,900 to $5,000,000. Salt Lake City real estate is a good buy. The average home price is $184,756. The average condo price in Salt Lake City is an affordable $132,979. Utah recently ranked among the leaders for appreciation. Due to the State’s new found popularity property is becoming a high demand asset. Local realtors say the key to buying Salt Lake City Real Estate is to buy early when rates are low and appreciation will still likely occur. Now is a great time to get involved with real estate here because home values are steadily increasing. If similar patterns are followed as in other states around the country there will be large increase and it will happen soon. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to jump start your real estate investing career or to find your dream home. With the help of a realtor in the Valley I recently purchased a town-home for $159,000 and now it is worth over $176,000. That appreciation happened in less than 5 months.

The population trends, the quality of the area, and recent history all indicate Salt Lake City real estate is ready to flourish. Acting now could save you thousands. Salt Lake is a great area with beautiful mountains and very family centered communities. Buying real estate here will be one of the best decisions you have made.

Mark Keller is an Internet Marketer for http://www.10xmarketing.com Learn more about Salt Lake City real estate by visiting the http://www.LucidiaGroup.com at http://www.lucidiagroup.com/salt-lake-city-real-estate.aspx