1. Call a REALTOR.
   If you don't know a good REALTOR, ask around. Your friends, neighbors, church members, work colleagues all probably have some good recommendations. The best REALTORS are those who are valued by their clients and are recognized by the outstanding service they give.
2. Ask For References
   Ask how long he or she has been in the business and how many homes a year he or she sells. Most important of all, find out HOW that REALTOR is planning to market your house.
3. What to Look For
   Your REALTOR should be willing to make a commitment to advertise when necessary and where it will do the most good. This especially includes the Internet. Your REALTOR should have a website on which your home can be prominently featured. In today's world, both buyers and sellers are all over the Internet, looking first, before they visit. Not only should your home be featured on the Internet, it needs a 360-DEGREE iPIX VIRTUAL TOUR. This is extremely important because your home is viewable around the clock: every buyer hitting your website may walk through your house anytime, as if he were there. It saves wear and tear on you and your family and weeds out the "tire kickers". It is a known fact that homes with IPIX virtual tours get more attention and sell quicker, while listings with just a few pictures get ignored. In addition, all your home's Virtual Tour and photos should be visible on Realtor.com and the Middle Tennessee MLS.
4. Get your House Ready
   Have your REALTOR advise you on what stays, what gets rearranged, and what goes. Your REALTOR will help you prioritize what things need to be done now and what can wait. Start with these areas:

   A. Front door / approach: First impressions are everything for buyers. If you have toys, leaves, dead plants and peeling paint at your entryway, your Buyer is already marking it down in price mentally. Or deciding this isn't the house for him. Pay attention to the landscaping, especially in front. Bring in fresh mulch. Plant flowers or put them in pots. Paint. Clean.

   B. Windows: Wash them. It makes all the difference in the world.

   C. General Condition: Major repairs like roof, plumbing, windows, need to be fixed beforehand, because they will turn up anyway during the buyer's professional inspection. Don't just cover them up with a superficial patch job. Get real professionals to fix things correctly the first time, and avoid controversy before closing.

   D. Cleanliness: A clean house shows well, even if the furniture is shabby and there isn't much décor. Pick up toys. Clean off counters. Pack it all away, because you are going to be moving anyway, right? If you don't have space, rent storage space or ask a friend with an attic or basement to help. Regarding attics, basements and garages: you can store as much as you like there. Just keep the main house clutter-free. Learn more tips when you list your home with me!

5. Price it Right
   Listen to your REALTOR. He or she will have a lot of research and experience in determining a proper listing price. If you think the price is wrong, discuss it with them. Look at comparable sale prices in your area, and with your REALTOR, find the price that is best for your house.

Pitfall: It's a mistaken assumption that everyone will bid lower than your asking price. Find a price as close as possible to what you can take. Don't overprice your house. You will scare buyers away. You will lose valuable time. You will have a lot better chance getting an acceptable price… if you don't overprice your property to begin with.

For more information or if you have questions, e-mail me at trishwoolwine@comcast.net