There is no magic formula for setting a listing price. It's an art, not a science. That said, there are standard practices that can help you arrive at a listing price that works well in your market. The first thing to do is to look at the prices of recently sold properties that are comparable to yours. You'll need to get down to the details of the property: the size and condition, location, number of rooms and bathrooms, square footage, lot size, age, etc. This exercise will help you set a realistic list price within the current market conditions. The goal is to have buyers competing to buy your home while still getting you top dollar. Here are some questions you need to consider when setting your price: What's the average list price for similar homes? If there were two or three comparables nearby that were recently sold, what was their list price? What was their final sale price? How long did it take for them to sell? How does your property compare with theirs? Was yours listed at a different time of year than theirs? Once you have all this information in front of you, you should be able to calculate an accurate list price for your home.

It's important to get your home in a buyers' market.

Tip 1: Clean up the clutter. Remove everything from your walls and surfaces. This will make your home appear bigger and cleaner. Hang pictures on clipboards that can be easily rehung when the time comes.

TIP 2: Have your carpets cleaned and all windows washed inside and out! This will increase the perceived value of your home.

Tip 3: Get rid of stale odors like pet or cooking smells by cleaning and airing out rooms, especially the kitchen and bathroom. You may want to consider light refreshments for prospective buyers, it's easier for them to envision themselves living there if they're not worried about what their neighbors will think about their new smell.

TIP 4: Be sure to stage your home with personal items like family photos, collections, etc., as well as any decorations that are special to you but not necessarily integral to the decor of a room (i.e., an old childhood toy). A buyer can imagine themselves there much better if they can imagine themselves living in YOUR home! If you don't want to part with any of these things, take photographs that you can display instead.

TIP 5: One last thing! Don't forget to clean both inside and outside.

The answer to this question is the most important part of the entire home selling process. If you are not prepared for how long it will take, it can be a very frustrating process. The time it takes for your home to sell is directly related to several factors:

1) The general marketplace in which your property is being sold. Is there a shortage of homes for sale or an over-supply? Are there more buyers than sellers? This can impact the time it takes to sell.

2) The condition of your home and its location. Is your neighborhood in high demand? Is your house worth what you are asking for it? This can certainly impact the time it takes to sell.

3) How much work do you need to do on your home before the market will accept it? Have you done a lot of remodeling and updates or just basic maintenance? Also, is the house staged so that people can picture themselves living there? These things can certainly impact the time it takes to sell.

TIP: If you're in a hurry to sell your home, price it right and make sure your home shows well.

Whether you are preparing to PCS, or just ready to sell your home, Madriz Realty Group is the best choice for your real estate needs. With over 20 years experience of PCSing thougout my military career, we are certain that we can help you with all of your real estate needs! IF YOU ARE PREPARING TO PCS: PCSing (Permanent Change of Station) across country or overseas can be a very stressful time for both the buyer and seller. We have many clients that have had a flawless transaction with us. The key to a successful purchase is communication and planning ahead of time. We are here to help you from start to finish no matter what questions or concerns you might have. We will walk you through each step of the process from buying your new home to selling your current home. With our knowledge and expertise in the local market we will make your move as smooth as possible. Don't wait until the last minute to list your home! Be proactive and start early so that when it comes time for you to leave we can get it on the market quickly and get your home sold fast! Getting it sold before you leave gives you one less thing to worry about before you go. In today's market timing is everything; get started today!