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When you attend one of these open houses, be aware that without an agent representing you, the hosting agent may seek to keep both sides of the commission - leaving YOU to fend for yourself. What that means, is that you won't have anyone researching comparables, nor will you have an objective professional negotiating on your behalf. Remember, the agent representing the seller is contractually obligated to get the most money and the best terms from the buyer - THIS COULD MEAN YOU!
Invite all the neighbours for blocks around your house. Make sure everyone knows your house is for sale. Show them the good points and tell them your price. Why? Because neighbours are the best promoters of the neighbourhood and they have friends and family who buy homes.
Remember-clean everything and get rid of the clutter. You've set up a home business and have computer stuff strewn from one end of the house to the other? Rent a local garage or small office, and work there, while your home remains serenely spick-and-span. You only do dishes once a week? Have a box handy to put greasy dishes in and cart everything down to the car and stash it in the trunk (also good for dirty diapers).
Light sells. Light makes everything look bigger, happier, more inviting. Shine everything. Wash all windows. Make sure all lights have 100-watt bulbs, because a savvy real estate agent will turn them all on, even during daytime showings.
Clean all surfaces. Dirt turns everybody off. Take adhesive yukko stuff off with Goof Off or other products containing Xylene (Caution: dangerous flammable, poisonous vapours). Use cat litter or dry Portland cement to sop up the oil in the driveway. Steam clean the wall-to-wall carpets and drapes in bad shape. Fix dripping faucets and sagging doors. Never leave a half-re-paired vehicle on the front lawn. These efforts will more than pay for themselves at price time.
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