Open house is a great opportunity for both the buyer and the seller.  It gives the seller the chance to showcase their home and the buyer can view the home in all its glory.  Buyers love to scope out potential homes and many offers are made at open houses.  After all, open houses are really sales presentations. In order to have a successful open house, there are some tasks that should be completed by the seller beforehand.

The most obvious task is cleaning.  The house should be spotless, including appliances.  If you work full time and don’t have the time to get the house cleaned, hire a house cleaning service.  The money spent is well worth it if you are able to sell quickly.  It might be hard to keep it clean if you are still living there, but you must make a concentrated effort to try.  Your home presentation must be impeccable.

Keep foul and mysterious odors away.  The first thing a potential buyer will notice is an offensive odor and you will probably never see them again.  Regularly inspect your home for potential odor sources and keep a steady supply of candles and air fresheners on hand.  If you have an indoor cat, keep the litter box out of sight and scooped out daily. 

Clutter is a major turnoff to potential buyers.  It just isn’t comforting to see piles of clutter everywhere.  Keep small appliances stored instead of out on the countertops.  Remove photographs and knick-knacks.  You want people to envision their belongings in the house.  Clean out and organize the closets.  If there is no reason for something to be displayed, get rid of it.

If you can, remove non-essential furniture to make the rooms appear larger.  Spacious rooms are more appealing to the eyes.  Keep your boxes of junk stored out of sight.  It is a good idea to start figuring out what you need and what you can live without.  It would be a good idea to have a garage sale before you put the house on the market.  If you can’t bear to part with anything, rent a temporary storage unit.

You cannot ignore the outside of the house either.  The outside presentation has a major impact on the buyer.  Clean the leaves out of the drain gutter, don’t let garden hoses or other tools pile up outside.  Pick them up and store them elsewhere.  Make the effort to beautify the front entry.  If the door handle is rusty or the whole door looks junky, get a new one.  Keep the flower beds neat and free from weeds.

Look at the walls and try to put yourself in the buyers’ shoes.  How would you look at the walls in someone else’s house?  Is the paint chipping or is the color outdated?  It would be well worth your time to give the walls a fresh coat of paint.  Nothing makes a room come alive more than a fresh coat of paint.  Give the rooms a little bit of a makeover with new décor that compliments the wall colors.  If you have a garden, bring in some fresh flowers and put them in attractive vases.

Establish a pleasant atmosphere by baking bread or cookies.  Candles add a nice touch along with background music.  Classical or jazz music are both good choices.  You want to convey style and elegance to your audience.  First impressions go a long way.

When trying to sell your house, you should be prepared for a showing at any time.  Last minute requests are very common and can turn into offers.  You have the option to request 24 hours notice before a showing, but in doing so you limit your home’s exposure.  Try to be as flexible as possible.  Accommodating the hectic schedules of a potential buyer will make you and your home look that much better.

It is a good idea to not be present for the showing.  Buyers might not feel comfortable in your presence or they might be afraid to ask a particular question for fear of offending you.  If they can’t view the house fully, they will probably just move on to the next one.  You don’t want that.  They are supposed to fall in love with your house.

You have a fabulous home in a great location, yet it’s been sitting on the market for months with little or no interest. What can you do?

Real estate is a fickle business with markets fluctuating according to season, the economy and supply and demand. The general market aside, there could be other reasons your great home isn’t selling.

One of the top reasons great homes don’t sell is because they are overpriced. Setting a sale price for your home is tricky business. You want to get the maximum possible return on the sale without alienating potential buyers with a too-high price. Many home sellers also mistakenly think padding the price of their home gives them an opportunity to negotiate down toward a more reasonable selling price. While this may seem logical, your initial high price may be driving away potential buyers put off by your over-valuation of your home. They may think your home is simply out of their price range, or that you are being greedy or unreasonable in your thinking.

It is important to price your house according to the market in which it is located. For example, a house located near schools and other amenities may sell for more than an identical house situated in a remote area with few amenities. Additionally, if there are a lot of houses for sale in your neighbourhood, it becomes a buyers’ market and you may not be able to secure the price you think you should get if your neighbors are willing to go lower. Finally, there are trade-offs when selling your house: a lower price usually means a larger market of potential buyers and a faster sale while a higher price means a smaller market of potential buyers and a slower sale. If you are determined to get a certain price for your home, you must be prepared to wait to get it.

Another reason your house may not be selling is exposure. Are you trying to sell it yourself? If so, it may be difficult to arrange showings around your work and family schedule, therefore limiting the potential for a sale. Listing your house with a realtor may give you the exposure boost you need to sell your home. Not only does a realtor have more flexibility in showing your home, he or she will also advertise the house and list it on the widely used MLS (Multiple Listing Service) website.

Even if your house is listed with a realtor, it may not be attracting buyers because of a poor photo on the MLS listing, advertising or feature sheets. Many potential buyers will dismiss a home as a possibility based on the impression made by the photo they see.

Other issues to consider include:

Is your house clean and neat? This is vital to making a strong impression on potential buyers. Clutter is not desirable, so take time to sift through your belongings and get rid of the stuff you don’t need or want. Throw out the junk and donate the rest of your unwanted possessions to charity. Even after going through your things, you may have too much stuff in plain view. Organize your closets and cabinets to fit more in, and if there is still too much, buy some plastic containers and store the stuff you don’t use very often in the tubs, which you can stack neatly in the basement. This may be inconvenient, but it will improve the look of your home.

Curb appeal: does your home look neat and welcoming from the street? It is in good repair? Just like with photographs, your home is judged on its appearance from the street. Increase your chance of a buyer being interested by spending a few minutes ensuring your house looks great.

Dated décor can reduce the appeal of your home. Replace old flooring, apply new paint, and add a slip cover to your or unstylish furniture. Changing the hardware in your kitchen is a great way to modernize its look without spending a lot of money. If you have old, stained or smelly carpet, it should be removed. In fact, this may be a bonus as you could uncover lovely hardwood underneath the carpet.

Odor control. We may love our pets, but not everyone does. Make sure kitty’s litter box is fresh (and out of the way!), and that hair and musty pet blankets are out of sight. As mentioned above, smelly carpet isn’t appealing. If your pet has soiled the carpet, it should be professionally cleaned or removed.

There are several things that should be avoided before purchasing a home. If you aren’t careful to avoid these common mistakes, it is possible that your closing will be delayed or even canceled. Your adherence to the following rules will put the keys to the house in your hands quickly.

First, don’t damage your debt to income ratio by making a major purchase before closing. If you decide you can’t live without that brand new BMW, you might have to wait on owning a home. The bank could easily determine that your sky high car payment would hinder your ability to pay your mortgage. Wait until after you get the house to do some spending. No one expects a brand new house full of furniture and a sports car in the driveway unless you are a famous sports figure or Donald Trump.

Secondly, don’t change jobs if you don’t have to. The lenders like to see consistency versus constant job hopping. If you are just miserable with your job, maybe you can switch to a different job within the same field. Or you can tough it out until you have the house and then start putting out resumes.

Also, you should never surrender your earnest money to a For Sale by Owner Seller. There isn’t anything stopping the sellers from spending the money before the transaction goes through. If the deal should fall through, the buyers would have to fight tooth and nail to get that deposit back. You should put the deposit into a trust account. You should be able to find an attorney willing to hold the deposit for you until the transaction is finalized. Your contract needs to state what will happen to the deposit in the event that the transaction falls through.

In addition, never let emotions guide you. Stay practical and realistic during the home buying process. Some sellers are willing to fix some of the problems with the home and others may not be as willing. Don’t let that refusal close the door on your dream home. Conversely, you shouldn’t let your loyalty to the home blind you to costly repairs down the road. You certainly don’t want to be in a money pit.

Furthermore, don’t forget to have the utilities activated. The utility companies might need a few days to switch the service. Don’t forget to cancel the service at the old residence. That seems simple enough, yet many people forget that step entirely.

Another costly mistake might be forgetting to secure hazard insurance. Talk to your insurance company right away because the lender will want to see proof of coverage for the new home at closing. Failing to line up the insurance will lead to delays in closing.

You should not get too personal with the seller. After all, this is a business transaction, so it should be treated professionally. If you get into too many personal discussions, you might say something that could be taken the wrong way by the seller. You might have been joking about the ugly green carpet in the guest bedroom, but the seller might have taken that as offensive. In the end, it could hurt the dynamics of the transaction. You should be friendly, but professional.

If the appraisal comes in too low, don’t freak out. There are several solutions to this dilemma. The seller might be willing to come down on the price of the home. The buyer can put more money down if they are committed to that home. The buyer and seller can negotiate the deal or the appraisal can be disputed.

Don’t forget to use your agent. It is the agent’s job to keep up with the daily details of the deal, including the lender, the seller, and the seller’s agent. It is also your agent’s responsibility to set up a final walkthrough prior to closing.

Lastly, don’t forget to take care of your end of the deal. You must be on the same page as the lender. Provide them with the paperwork they need and answer their questions in a timely manner. Failure to do so will keep you from opening the front door of your new home.

These are some of the most common mistakes home buyers make. Educating yourself about the process will ensure a smoother transaction and a definite housewarming party.

Just as there are many things you can do to improve your chances of selling your house at a great price, there is an equal number of things that will drive away potential buyers and leave you scratching your head.

If you are working with a realtor, he or she will be able to make suggestions on how to make your particular home more saleable, but addressing the following problem areas is always a great place to start.

A smelly house is not an attractive house to potential buyers. The problem with odors such as cigarette smoke and pet smells is that you live with them day in and day out and may not notice them. To an outsider, however, the smell will be pungent and noticeable. You can get rid of these odors by smoking outside, keeping litter boxes fresh and in a contained area, repainting walls, shampooing and steam-cleaning carpets and opening your windows to let in fresh air. Don’t try to cover odors with an air freshener without taking steps to eliminate the problem; it won’t work and your house will still be smelly and unwelcoming to potential buyers. Removing odors from mold and mildew can be a little tougher and may require professional intervention if the affected area is not easily accessible (between walls for example).

Pets: you love them and think of them as part of the family. Your potential buyer may not share your sentiment, so like other members of the family, your furry companions should not be on site while someone is inspecting your house. Pile everyone in the family vehicle, or crate your pets in the yard so potential buyers can look around without being barked at, snarled at or pounced on.

Bathrooms are associated with hygiene, so unclean bathrooms are a major turn-off for most buyers. Make sure your toilet, tub, and sink are sparkling clean and that the drains are clear and free of wet hair and other odor-trapping debris. Shine your faucets and mirrors, de-clutter the medicine chest, empty the trash pail and launder your towels, shower curtain and floor mats.

Dark rooms look dingy and uninviting. Increase the brightness factor of your rooms by adding brighter bulbs (if appropriate), installing extra fixtures, or by placing accent lamps or cabinet lighting throughout the room. An even simpler fix is to pull back heavy curtains and lift your blinds. Trimming low-hanging branches from nearby trees can also help.

Busy wallpaper is a no-no. Too many patterns can be distracting and can date your décor. Consider removing busy wallpaper, but don’t paint over it because that will look even worse.

Wet basements are a cause for concern as they can indicate foundation leaks. More often however, damp basements are a sign of poor ventilation, plugged drains, or improperly positioned downspouts. Remove any mold or mildew that may have appeared as a result of dampness.

Bugs; they’re usually harmless, but still an obstacle to home sales. Squash what you can, clear cobwebs, and enlist professional help if you have an infestation.

Low curb appeal can discourage potential buyers from taking a closer look at your home. Spruce up your yard, entry and façade. Make sure your paint isn’t peeling, and that gardens look their best, even if out of season. Bicycles, lawn mowers and tools should be neatly stored in a shed or in the garage if necessary.

Plugged Gutters. Potential buyers may not notice blocked gutters during an initial showing, but they will turn up during a professional building or home inspection, which could be the difference between a conditional sale going ahead or not.

Clear out when someone is looking at your house. Potential buyers may feel awkward looking around your house if you are hovering over their shoulder. Working with a realtor to sell your house eliminates this problem, as they act as chaperone during the showing without intimidating your buyer.

Most of these fixes are simple and inexpensive to implement, yet can have a major impact on the saleability of your house. If possible, address any of the issues that are present in your home before you list it for sale.

The Jones’ family found their dream home and moved into it with all of the excitement and enthusiasm of a kid on Christmas morning. After a long and hectic day of unpacking, they collapsed into bed anticipating a good night’s rest. Unfortunately, they were shocked and dismayed when they began to hear the very obvious noise of trucks roaring along the inter-state highway situated less than a half mile to the rear of their home. Too late!

This unfortunate situation exemplifies the need to focus on location when contemplating the purchase of a home. A ten million dollar mansion isn’t worth a dime if it’s sitting next to a toxic waste dump. This example is far-fetched and outrageous, but it makes the point that finding the right location is certainly as important as finding the right house.

How do you investigate a potential neighborhood? There are a number of factors and issues to be considered in your evaluation. Some of them can be covered merely through visual observation; others will have to be explored with the assistance of community and government organizations.

One of your first and most significant concerns should be the crime rate. If every other house on the block is being burglarized every other month, you might want to look elsewhere. Talk to a spokesperson of the local law enforcement agency. Ask for a listing of their monthly crime stats and a copy of their year ending report. When talking to the spokesperson about crime rates, ask about their response times in your area. If it’s over five minutes, ask why. If the community has a neighborhood watch group or a neighborhood citizens’ security patrol, attend one of their meetings or speak with their group representatives.

How far is your new neighborhood from your place of employment? How far is too far? Bottom line: check the driving time and traffic patterns, both coming and going, by driving the route you’ll take. Are there any activities or facilities in the area that will make the trip more unpleasant or time consuming on specific days of the week? As an example, is there a bridge that backs up on Friday afternoons as people rush to their weekend retreats?

If you have children, or anticipate having them, you’ll want to check out the schools in the area. Visit the schools and talk to the Principals or school counselors. Ask about class sizes, bus service, curriculum and even school menus. If your child is a gifted student, you’ll want to inquire about accelerated courses. If your child needs special Ed opportunities, ask about them. Knowing about your child’s school is one of your primary responsibilities as a parent.

This may sound a bit picky, but you should visit and evaluate your local markets, shops and restaurants. Do they sell quality products? Is there a convenient place to purchase daily necessities such as milk, luncheon items, coffee, etc.? Do the local restaurants suit your taste? The answers to these questions may not factor substantially into your moving decision, but they are part of the equation and should at least be recognized and considered.

Availability of community services should not be overlooked. Is there a good hospital in the immediate vicinity? Do they have an emergency room? How about parks and a library?

You should visit the neighborhood at various times of the day and night to check for sounds, smells, heavy traffic and the presence of any activities that you might find offensive as a resident. Sometimes the complexion of a neighborhood changes at night. Drive around after dark and look for the presence of undesirables lounging about in public places. Try to get a sense and feeling of the neighborhood.

Finally, you will want to find out if the community has a community association. If so, visit the association and ask about membership dues, restrictions and covenants. If the representative is forthcoming, ask if there are any problems in the area that you as a prospective new resident should consider.

You are about to make one of the biggest financial decisions of your life. Don’t be timid. Ask questions, make notes and weigh all the pro’s and con’s before deciding.