by Francis Jock

Created on: April 21, 2009   Last Updated: March 03, 2010

The housing market has been in serious trouble ever since the market collapsed two years ago. Homeowners in many metropolitan areas have been facing the prospect of declining property values and a real estate market flooded with foreclosures and short sales. The challenge for home sellers is to make their home more appealing and attractive than any other house on the market. Here are a few simple tips that could just be what you need to help you sell your home.

Beyond Curb Appeal: First impressions count and astute home sellers should go to great lengths in order to make a great first impression when preparing their home for sale. Begin by paying attention to the exterior appearance of your home. Step into the home-buyer's shoes and look at your home from their point of view. Some home buyers like overflowing flower beds, while others prefer solid roofing, foundations and carefree siding. Accentuating your home's exterior lighting and a fresh coat of paint is a good place to begin enhancing your home's curb appeal.

Trying to sell a " Retro-Home"? Does your home need to have improvements or upgrades? Today's home buyers do not place the same value formal dining rooms or parlors once commonplace among older homes. For instance, most modern homes feature open-space kitchens and technically sophisticated family rooms. Bathrooms are larger and more inviting, as well. Take some time to compare what's new and trendy with your home's best and worst features and decide if the cost of renovation is worth it in terms of return on investment. You may spend a little money up front when upgrading your home's interior, but chances are good that you can still recover your investment when your home is sold.

Fix-It Up: Carefully evaluate the overall condition of your home and make any repairs that are necessary. Home buyers will quickly lose interest if they see broken windows, signs of water damage, rodents or insects, a sagging roof, a cracked foundation or walls, an ancient heating system, leaking plumbing, and any structural damage of any kind. Consider hiring a professional home inspector, and make whatever repairs are necessary. You can show the results to your real estate agent and home-buyers as a strong selling point.

Curb Appeal: Attractive landscaping, lighting and security, color coordinated doors, shutters and windows are just the beginning to improving your home's curb appeal. Landscaping should be free from clutter and debris, and gardens and hedges should be neatly trimmed and free of ugly weeds. Ideally, your home's appearance will stand out against other homes in the marketplace.

Finally, there are a few housekeeping tips to pay attention to. You should be thinking about removing all the visible clutter and unnecessary furniture from every room. Next, take a sniff as you walk through each room. Any unwelcoming odors should be uncovered and the source removed. Make sure your front entry way is clear, bright and welcoming. Finally give your home a thorough cleaning, including sweeping up the cob webs, dusting the high spot, touching up the paint, removing the finger stains around the light switches, and covering any rust, water, or discolorations on walls, linoleum and ceiling wherever they exist. Also, don't forget to check your storage spaces for unnecessary clutter and remove as many unused and unnecessary items as possible.

With these few tips in mind, you are far more likely to get the best price possible for your home. The housing market is beginning to recover in many parts of the country so be prepared to sell your home when the opportunity arises. With a healthy dose of organization, cleaning, and elbow grease and these tips, be assured that you will sell your home.

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