How many search results do you think Google would retrieve if you typed in "tips to sell a home?" Try 509 million! Holy cow, how are you supposed to know where to start and who to trust with so many search results? If you're like me, you might restate your search phrase to something like "home selling tips.
" The problem is there are still almost 32 million search results.
Sure, you'll get a lot of good tips and help, but they may not be exactly the answer you're looking for.
In this article I pull from my 17 years of real estate experience to give you some free selling tips that will help you not only sell faster, but to get a higher price for your home as well.
When listing a property for sale, one of my first questions is to ask the seller what their objective is.
They normally give me two or three answers, but it's very important to narrow it down to one answer to start.
It's not that the other answers are not important, it just helps to determine the importance of each question and build a marketing plan around the "rated" answers.
If you are considering selling your property, I would suggest you rating your top three answers too.
From my experience, the most common seller objectives are:

1. The client wants the home to sell for the highest possible price!
2. The seller wants the house to sell quicker than their neighbor's home did!
3. They usually want fewer hassles than their Auntie Betty had when she listed with XYZ Realty.
   

If you are thinking about selling your house, I would guess these look similar to the your answers.
So what's it take to sell a house in this market and get a better price with fewer hassles along the way? Step number one is to interview real estate agents until you find one who actually has a marketing plan (because many do not).
You'll also want to hire a broker who knows the three P's to selling a house in any market.
These three home selling tips, when used correctly, are proven to work every single time! In fact, I listed two properties last week and both of them received offers within 2 days! With so many property sellers asking what it takes to sell a house and with the extreme need to do so (especially in these economic times), it amazes me how many real estate brokers don't know how to answer the question when it comes up.
There are actually only 3 factors that determine whether a home sells or not, and no, one of them is not the economy! The 3 P's To Sell A Home in Any Market! P#1: Price: When partnering with a professional real estate broker, he or she should help you understand the listing, pending, and comparable sales in the neighborhood, but the price is always your decision.
It is also the most important of my three tips to sell.

• If you list your property at a much higher price than the neighborhood comp's, you risk pricing yourself out of the market and failing to sell.
  The price needs to be compelling enough that a buyer will want to walk through your front door.
  On the other hand, if it's priced too low you risk losing money.
  If your goal is a faster sale, you need to understand that this really is the most important factor.
  
• The seller is in 100% control over setting the listing price, not the agent.
  However, it's important to consider that by choosing a much higher price than the one recommended by your real estate broker may cause your home to age on the market and reduce sale-ability.
  Top agents have a goal to sell 100% of the listings and will usually refuse to take listings that we feel are overpriced.
  
• Setting the price must reflect seller's objectives.
  For example, if the seller's goal to move before school starts in 3 months, they should ask themselves if they are prepared to make the necessary adjustments (if necessary) to the price to make that happen.
  A real professional agent will be able to help you establish a solid price, but remember you are in control of the price.
  

P#2 The Product.
In order to sell a house quicker, it should be constructively criticized from a buyer's point of view.
For example: just because your house is priced lower than any other in the neighborhood doesn't make it the best buy on the block.
Things to consider when considering the product:

• Does the house has an unusual floor plan? Is the home dated with lime green wallpaper and shag carpeting? Is there too much clutter, deferred maintenance, etc.
  

If you answer "yes" to any of these questions, you may need additional price compensations to reach your selling goal.
On the other hand, it's also true that if your home a real diamond, you may be able to adjust your price higher and still be able to get a faster sale.
Guess what? You, as the seller are also in control of the condition of the product.
I understand that it can be inconvenient to keep your home ready to show, but its well worth it, even if it means hiring a house cleaning company or storage unity to help you out for a few months.
Home presentation is a major key to getting a favorable price for your home! P#3: The final "P" is your real estate broker's responsibility! It stands for PROMOTION! This is what you want your agent to do.
To experience a successful sale and realize a higher selling price, your home must be promoted correctly.
This is the advertising, marketing, etc.
, and it's best done with a plan.
Unfortunately this is also where many brokers fail their clients miserably! It's also probably the number one complaint home sellers have about real estate agents.
The perception is that the broker doesn't do anything and for good reason, in many cases.
You see, many broker's idea of a marketing plan is this:

• Get seller to sign listing agreement.
  
• Hammer a sign in the yard.
  
• Hang a flier box on the sign post.
  
• Enter into multiple listing service.
  
• Whew! Done for 6 months, or until he/she is lucky enough to get an offer or the listing expires.
  

So what makes a solid marketing plan? Learning.
The fact is, the tactics that worked so well 10 or 15 years ago no longer catch the buyer's attention like they once did.
Before buyers had access to that thing called the internet, they had to either get a book, or stop by a local real estate office to get a list of properties.
Those days are long gone my home selling friend.
In order to find the potential buyers, agents need to not only be where the buyer are (online), but we also need to know how to step in front of the 80% of the home buyers currently searching online for their dream home.
The internet works like a highway.
Today's top agents have learned how to successfully "step" in front of the traffic.
I would strongly suggest hiring a listing real estate broker who has a solid online marketing strategy.
It's a must in the electronic world we're living in.
Did you know that 90% of the real estate business is done by 10% of the brokers? Not so ironically, the #1 complaint by home sellers is the lack of communication and effort done by their agent! Be sure you hire one of the 10% who understand how to use these home selling tips and you will reach your home selling goal.