Selling a house isn’t easy. We have all driven by houses with a For Sale sign that seems to never post a "Sold" and we wonder what is wrong with that house.  So, before you decide to sell take a close look inside and out, starting by entering your front door. There are some factors you can’t control, like location or noisy neighbors. However, her are my top five tips you can do to give your house the best shot at selling.

1. Fix what’s broken

Buyers are always looking for the perfect move-in ready home, so fixing broken items is key. If your house needs a lot of help, focus on the major problems in your home. If there are problems with the home that you can easily fix, whether it be chipping paint or a broken fence post, try to fix them before you list your house. But if yours need a new roof? Buy one. A new owner will not want to put a new roof on the house unless you’re offering the home at a serious discount, plus lenders may decline the loan to the buyer without one.

2. Simplify

Scale down your decor and declutter. I know this is easier said than done, but if you want to sell your house quickly, you need to allow people to see it and not focus on your stuff. So besides getting rid of extra papers and that pile of clothes in your closet that you haven’t worn in years, make sure you scale down trinkets and memorabilia. When people walk through your house, they want to imagine what it will be like to live in the home. My rule of thumb is if it is smaller than a cantaloupe pack it up. 

3. CLEAN TOP TO BOTTOM

There is a saying in staging, "IF WE CAN SMELL IT WE CAN'T SELL IT". That goes for too much air freshener also, it makes people suspicious of what your hiding if they aren’t downright allergic to the perfumed air. Even if you can't afford to replace and repair costly items, you can’t afford not to cleaning and remove clutter. Make it shine inside and out. Clean windows, blinds and shades, baseboards, doors and handles, closets, cabinets, light fixtures, floors, and furnishings. Trim landscaping and trees, clean the front door and lubricate locks. If your keeping your trinkets pack them in boxes and neatly stack them in the garage to one side.

4. Update your appliances

It’s important to remember that homebuyers have specific items they look for in a home. For many buyers great appliances are number one on their wish list for a home. That’s where you come in. While you probably can’t afford to update every one of your home’s appliances, take a hard look at what your current setup looks like. Is the stove outdated? Dropping a few hundred dollars on a dishwasher or oven might not be the way you want to spend your money, but it could help you sell your house. If someone sees an old stove sitting in the middle of the kitchen that looks like it’s about to break, they may wonder what else is going to break if they buy the house. 

 5. Price fairly

You’ve spent years developing memories in your house, so it’s normal to want to attach a price tag to those. Unfortunately, the reality is that you can’t afford to ask too much for your house. Remember that buyers are looking for a good deal. They want to know that they’re getting their money’s worth when they buy a house. Take a look at what other houses are selling for in your area and price your home accordingly. If you aren’t sure how much to ask for your house, don’t be afraid to contact a real estate agent to ask for help.