The most important variable to getting top dollar for your home is timing.  Most home sellers don't realize this but it's true.  That is why it is so very important for us to understand as your realtor what are your goals as far as when you would ideally like to sell your home.  Some people are building a new home and might not need to sell their home for several months while some others might need to get out right away.  Everyone's situation is different and needs to handled with attention and detail.  Understanding that - there still is one consistent that has been found in home selling studies time and time again.  Your home has  a better chance of selling at a higher price if it isn't overpriced intially.  That might seem a little bit trivial but let me explain.  The selling data of homes in your area are not a mystery. This information is readily available and provided to most buyers by their agents. So buyers and agents know when a home is priced at a premium and this premium has to be justified. There isn't much that can't be duplicedate nowadays so premium homes must be unique.  So unless someone is put into a position where they simply must have your home because of some unique feature (and unique means that no one else in your area has it and it can't be duplicated - largest lot, etc.) your home will probably sit without a real offer if it is overpriced - until the list price is brought down accordingly to represent the others in that area.  This is where you get in trouble because timing is the most important variable when selling and buying a home. 

If someone sees that your home has been on the market for 100 days and it hasn't sold, even if it is now listed at the average price per sq ft - they aren't going to offer full price for your home.  Why do they do this?  Simply - answer - the same reason you or I would offer a lower price.  The home is stale and the sellers are now worried because it isn't selling.  If they weren't worried - they would have kept it at the premium price.  The control in the situation has now shifted towards the buyer.  So how do you avoid this situation - list is appropriately from the bigging.  There is not a more important day than the 1st day in the MLS if you are selling your home. This is the day that your listing hits hundreds or thousands of automated search reports that consist of email updates sent to potential buyers or realtors.  Your MLS listing has to be perfect before it is published.

With that being said - we would like to leave you with a couple of suggestions to preparing your home for sale.

• Get rid of clutter. Less is more. Pack away non-essentials.
• Store out-of-season clothing to make closets seem roomier.
• Clean out the garage. You can put boxes in the garage - that's okay - but have it look neat.
• Wash your windows and screens to let more light in. Keep everything extra clean. A clean house makes a better first impression and convinces buyers that the home has been well cared for.
• Power clean the stove, oven and refrigerator.
• Get rid of smells. Glade plug-ins are suggested if you have a dog.
• Clean or replace carpet and drapes.
• Replace burnt-out bulbs.
• Make minor repairs.  Small problems such as sticky doors, torn screens, cracked caulking, or a dripping faucet may seem trivial, but they’ll give buyers the impression that the house isn’t well maintained.
• Tidy your yard. 
• Cut the grass and edge. Yes edge.
• Trim the bushes and add mulch to flower beds.
• Put a pot or two of bright flowers near the entryway.
• Polish your front doorknob and door numbers.