50 Simple Steps You Can Take to Sell Your Home Faster and for More Money in Any Market

by Glink, Ilyce R.

• ISBN13: 9780609809334
• ISBN10: 0609809334
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2003-01-01
• Publisher: Three Rivers Press

Summary

If buying a home is the single biggest investment anyone can make, then successfully selling that home is even more important. In this book, Ilyce Glink presents 50 simple steps that take home sellers through the process of readying a house for sale.

Author Biography

ILYCE R. GLINK’s newspaper column, “Real Estate Matters,” is syndicated nationally. She is the money and real-estate reporter for WGN-TV in Chicago, guest host for The Clark Howard Show on WSB-AM in Atlanta, and has appeared on Oprah and the Today show. Her books include 100 Questions You Should Ask About Your Personal Finances, 100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask, and 50 Simple Steps You Can Take to Disaster-Proof Your Finances. She lives in the Chicago area with her husband and two sons.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Introduction	xiii
Five Rules Every Home Seller Should Live By	1	(24)
If You Know Something's Broke, Fix It!	2	(6)
Don't Lie About What's Wrong with Your House	8	(3)
Don't Think You Can Fool the Home Inspector	11	(3)
Choose a Broker Who Matches Your Home-Selling Temperament	14	(6)
Don't Be a Pig When It Comes to Money	20	(5)
Cleaning House: Five Steps You Must Take Before You Sell	25	(24)
Get Rid of All the Clutter	26	(5)
Paint Your Interiors White	31	(3)
Clean or Replace Your Carpet and Floors	34	(4)
Turn On Your Lights During Showings	38	(4)
Create a No-Dust Zone	42	(7)
Spaces You See: Bedrooms, Bathrooms, Kitchen, Living Room, Dining Room, Family Room, and Home Office	49	(28)
Do Minor Remodels, Not Major Renovations, Before You Sell	50	(5)
Edit Your Furnishings	55	(4)
Redecorate in Small, Simple Ways, if Necessary	59	(4)
Keep Private Information Locked Away	63	(4)
Organize Your Books, Videos, CDs, and CD-ROMs	67	(3)
Take Extra Precautions if You Have Small Children or Infants	70	(3)
If You Don't Want to Leave It, Take It Down Before You List Your Home	73	(4)
Behind Closed Doors: Closets, Cabinets, Pantry, and Storage Spaces	77	(14)
Organize, Organize, Organize	78	(3)
Remove Half the Clothes from Each Closet	81	(4)
Refold Towels and Sheets in Your Linen Closet	85	(3)
Keep Your Home at a Comfortable Temperature Year-Round	88	(3)
The Basement, the Attic, and the Garage	91	(14)
Don't Try to Hide Recurring Problems	92	(4)
Disclose Hidden Issues and Problems Up Front	96	(3)
Clean Out Your Garage	99	(3)
Make Your Attic or Crawl Space Accessible	102	(3)
Pets and Odors	105	(8)
Keep Your Pet Restrained During Showings	106	(3)
If You Have a Pet, or if You Smoke, Clean Your Home Again	109	(4)
Outside Your Home	113	(18)
Clean or Paint the Exterior of Your Home	114	(4)
Wash Your Windows	118	(2)
Make Over Your Landscaping	120	(5)
Display a ``For Sale'' Sign	125	(3)
Limit Your Holiday and Family Decorations	128	(3)
Timing Is Everything: Making the Right Marketing Moves	131	(44)
Have a Prelisting Inspection	132	(6)
Check Out Your Competition	138	(3)
Use Technology to Its Best Advantage	141	(7)
Interview Several Agents Before You Hire One	148	(5)
Consider Using a Discount Broker or Selling by Owner	153	(7)
Negotiate Your Listing Agreement	160	(7)
Be Creative with Your Open Houses	167	(2)
Make Everyone Aware You Are Selling Your Home	169	(3)
Make Your Home Available for Showings	172	(3)
Price It Right!	175	(16)
Assess the Market Before You Price Your Home	176	(6)
Price Your Home Accurately to Reflect Its Condition	182	(6)
If There's No Response, Lower Your Price	188	(3)
Paperwork and Closing	191	(16)
Have Your Documents Ready	192	(4)
Hire a Real-Estate Attorney	196	(6)
Shop Around to Lower Your Closing Costs	202	(5)
When Nothing's Working	207	(10)
Give the Buyer a Break	208	(4)
Offer a Bonus to the Broker Who Brings the Buyer	212	(2)
Listen to the Buyers---and Their Agents	214	(3)
Appendix 1 Top Ten Mistakes a Home Seller Makes	217	(3)
Appendix 2 Room-by-Room Checklist	220	(3)
Appendix 3 Web Sites for Home Sellers	223	(3)
Glossary of Terms	226	(21)
Acknowledgments	247	(2)
Index	249