The home value performance in Fairfield County is 8.7% lower than last year. What will it take to sell your home in this devalued atmosphere?

Know that there is a difference between price and value. Price is the amount for which you are listing the property. Value is perceived, and this perception is influenced by many factors - location, features, condition, etc. By attending to details that have a positive impact on the value, seller’s can significantly increase their chance of attracting qualified buyers that may pay more for value.

Condition affects value, consider a seller’s home inspection to identify and repair any problems before marketing your property. Take care of the obvious! The spot on the ceiling from the old roof leak could potentially cause a buyer to initially offer thousands of dollars less.

Cosmetics are important. Potential buyers are seeing many properties at the same time – make certain that yours is by far the shiniest apple in the barrel. Fresh paint, clean or new carpet or flooring and landscaping add more value than it costs. This will not put you in a higher price category, but it will attract buyers and hold their interest longer.
onsider hiring a professional to stage and help you declutter your home. Perceived size impacts value, even more so than actual square footage. The space feels larger in a home that has little or no furniture or certainly a home with reduced clutter.
Price, Price, and Price – forget what you thought your home was worth, if you must sell, you must price your property correctly from the outset. If you have overcapitalized improvements, you very well may not recapture the value in your sales price in today’s marketplace. Beat the comparable sales prices – if prices are 10% lower than last year, price your property at 15% less to attract the qualified buyers.

Can you afford to play the banker? The tight credit market may work to your advantage.
Work With The Offer – no matter how many times you may have heard it and not believed it – the first offer is usually the best. Try to work with any offer that comes in, if you have hired a top agent, they will have the skill set required to bring you the most money from the most qualified buyer.