Survey of Realtors Reveals 5 Tips for Getting Top Dollar for Your Home

(PRWEB) October 19, 2005 -- A recent survey sponsored by StorageByMail.com revealed five simple tips consumers can take to ensure they get the best possible price when selling their homes.

“Sometimes a little prep work can mean the difference between getting a good price and getting top dollar for your home. Our survey of 100 realtors in the New York metropolitan area resulted in some helpful advice for consumers,� said David Hughes, vice president of public relations at StorageByMail.com.

Tips For Selling Your Home

1) Hire a Decorator to Set the Stage – Savvy homeowners have long turned to interior decorators to make their homes look like a page torn from Better Homes and Gardens prior to sale. And, contrary to popular opinion, this need not cost you an arm and a leg. Known as “staging� in the real estate business, a good decorator will help you select a neutral paint color, rearrange furniture, purchase sophisticated coffee table books, and even rent fine artwork for the big showing. When all is said and done, your home will look like it's ready for a photo shoot.

Decorators who stage homes for sale typically charge between $75 and $150 per hour for their services. However, it’s an investment many feel pays for itself. In fact, a recent survey by Coldwell Banker Realty in the United States showed that staged homes consistently sell in about half of the time and often for a price as much as five percent more than non-staged homes.

2) Eliminate Clutter – Make sure your closets, shelves and pantries are not overcrowded. A cluttered home will appear visually smaller than it really it is. Similarly, a clean and well organized home will appear larger and more spacious to the eye. To make your home as roomy as possible, eliminate 50% of the clothing, sporting goods, collectibles and anything else that is currently taking up space in your home. Also consider strategically removing a few pieces of furniture. The effect will be dramatic and your potential buyers will perceive your home to be roomy and spacious.

The easiest way to accomplish this is to box up anything you won’t need for the next 6 months and place it into storage.

3) Hold an Open House – Kick off your home selling campaign with an open house. Post signs and invite your neighbors, family and friends. They’re your best promoters and a great source of leads. Be sure to make your home as inviting as possible; coffee, fresh-baked cookies and a vase of flowers will go a long way. Tell your visitors about your home's finest selling points and, most importantly, collect their contact information so that you or your agent can follow up with a phone call the next day.

4) Hire a Professional Photographer – Today’s homebuyers do the bulk of their comparison-shopping online. In a matter of hours, they can compare literally hundreds of properties and will generally only visit those at the top of their list. They’ve grown to expect multiple high-quality shots of the interior and exterior as well as virtual 360 degree tours. If you want your listing to stand out, hire a professional photographer to create an online gallery for your home. For under $200, you can ensure web surfers give your home the attention it deserves.

5) Register a Domain – You want it to be as simple as possible for potential buyers to get information about your property. An easy way to accomplish this is to register a domain name with your property address (i.e. 300GardenStreet.com). Many registrars charge less than $10 per year to register a new domain and many offer professionally designed templates to help you get your site up in minutes.

About StorageByMail.com
StorageByMail.com is the only truly nationwide storage provider and is ideal for storing seasonal clothing, documents, excess business inventory and virtually anything that can fit in a box. Customers can download and print prepaid shipping labels, thanks to a partnership with the United States Postal Service, and keep track of packages in storage through a secure online inventory. Unlike traditional mini storage, StorageByMail.com offers door-to-door delivery and charges customers for the space they use, and not a penny more.