How to Get Top Dollar in Any Market
New Program Makes it Easier to Sell Your Home
by Gina Carr

difficult time communicating to their sellers about odor. If you employ an agent to get the most amount of money for you, please don't take offense if he or she confronts you about odor problems.

Access Factor. Top selling agents are less likely to show your home if it is not easily accessible. You will maximize showings if your home is on lockbox and not on "Appointment Only" status. When your home is being shown, you should:

- Keep all lights on

- Keep all drapes and shutters open

- Keep all doors unlocked

- Leave soft music playing

- Leave the premises - with your children and pets

Paint & Carpet Factor. Paint is your best improvement investment for getting a greater return on your money. Paint makes the whole house smell clean and neat. If your house has chipped paint, exposed wood, or paint that looks faded, it is time to paint. If your carpet is worn, dirty, outdated, or an unusual color, you may need to seriously consider replacing it. Many houses do not sell because of this problem. Don't think that buyers have more money than you have to replace carpet. They don't. They simply buy elsewhere.

Front Yard Factor. Your front yard immediately reflects the inside condition of your house to the buyer. Make certain that the trees are trimmed so the house can be seen from the street. Have the grass mowed, trimmed and edged. Walkways should be swept and debris cleared away. Plant seasonal flowers. This all adds to curb appeal. If a buyer doesn't like the outside, they may not stop at all to see the inside.

Getting your home ready for sale is now easier than it has ever been due to a new program that CENTURY 21 Advantage is offering. CENTURY 21 Advantage has developed a relationship with a company that will do ALL of your needed home improvements and they will DEFER payment for their services until closing.

That's right, the home seller is not obligated to pay for materials, labor, or anything until their home sells!*

Gina Carr is the leader of the number one real estate team in 30189, the Advantage Team at CENTURY 21 Advantage. She can be reached at (770) 516-5700 or gina@ginacarr.com.

The best chance for selling your property is within the first seven weeks. Studies show that the longer a property stays on the market, the less the seller will net. Below are five main factors sellers need to consider.

Pricing Factor. It is very important to price your property at a competitive market value when you first list it. The market is so competitive that even over-pricing by a few thousand dollars could mean that your house will not sell. It's interesting, but your first offer is usually your best offer. Here are reasons for pricing your property at the market value right from the start in order to net you the most amount of money in the shortest amount of time. An overpriced home:

- Minimizes offers

- Reduces showings

- Lowers agent response

- Limits financing options

- Limits qualified buyers

- Nets less for the seller

Eighty percent of the marketing is done when you decide on what price to ask for your home. If you are unwilling to list at current market value, you would be better off not putting it on the market at this time.

Clean Factor. Most people are turned off by even the smallest amount of uncleanness or odor when buying a home. Sellers lose thousands of dollars because they do not adequately clean. If your house is squeaky clean, you will be able to sell your home faster and net hundreds, if not thousands of dollars more. Look at your home with a buyer's eyes. Look for cobwebs, especially around the front door and in corners. Dust off the vents. Wipe down all baseboards, light fixtures, and doors. You want buyers to walk through your house saying, "T9his home is immaculate!" Odors must be eliminated. If you have dogs, cats, young children in diapers or, if you are a smoker, you need to assume there is some degree of odor. You may not notice the smell, but the buyers will! Most agents have a