People vow to do all kinds of things—hit the gym, get more sleep, quit Froot Loops—and if you plan to sell your home this year, making a few promises matter here most of all. After all, selling your home for top dollar takes work and the right mindset to strike a deal.

To help make that happen, we put together a list of good habits all home sellers should start now so that you’re fully prepared once opportunity knocks.

Vow No. 1: Get realistic about how much your home is worth

It’s natural to think your home is priceless, or hope it’s worth at least more than when you bought it. As such, many sellers make the epic mistake of placing a pie-in-the-sky price on their home with the hopes that some buyer somewhere will bite. But the reality…

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Second-homeowners have options 

Here are four ways to solve second-home maintenance woes:

1. The property management company

Hiring a management company to look after a second home is one option. They can open and close the house, handle rentals (if applicable) and respond to emergencies. In most cases, the company can also arrange for cleaning and hire local maintenance workers to handle repairs so the home is in tip-top shape for the owners’ arrival.

This is a popular choice for owners who live far away and want to rent out their property when not in use. Management companies generally charge a percentage of the rental price, and this can range from 20 percent to 60 percent.

If you’ve stayed in a vacation rental yourself, you know…

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7 Home Fixes You Must Complete Before Selling

Prioritize the projects that will bring the most value

 

The process of getting a property ready to put on the market can seem daunting enough. There’s clearing the clutter, endless amounts of cleaning, organizing and scrutinizing your property with a fine-tooth comb. What needs attention and what can you leave alone?

Welcome to the new world of “fixing to sell.” Gone are the days of throwing it on the market and seeing what happens. Prepping for sale is a highly choreographed dance of repair along with a bit of renovation and presentation.

Don’t ignore these seven areas.

1. Structural and mechanical

It might not be glamorous, but buyers are looking at big-ticket items like the age…

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5 home staging mistakes to avoid when selling your next place

Market the house to the buyers' liking

You would be hard pressed to find anyone with more of an inclination toward home staging than me. In fact, I can think of no better way to present a property for sale. There is evidence to suggest that a properly staged home can sell for more money and in a shorter period.

The only question is: Are you doing it right?

It’s relatively easy to find advice on how to stage a home, but sometimes the most effectively staged homes are founded on the things you didn’t do. Remember, it’s just as import to appeal to prospective buyers, as it is not to scare them away.

Remember, it’s just as important to appeal to prospective buyers, as it is to…

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 3 Everyday Selling Mistakes And How To Avoid Them

Follow these tips for a smooth sale

It pains me to say, but there are too many sellers in the real estate industry who are prone to committing costly mistakes. The sad part, however, is that the majority of the selling mistakes made are entirely avoidable but nonetheless devastating. Don’t fall pray to avoidable mistakes like those who have come before you.

Let’s take a look at some of the most common mistakes sellers make in today’s market and the best ways to avoid making them yourself when it comes time to sell your next home.

Don’t fall pray to avoidable mistakes like those who have come before you. 

Neglecting to secure the property

Security is, and always will be, an issue for…

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