By Joe Kennedy

With the recent problems in the mortgage industry and a real estate market that was already slowing before that news, local home sellers are facing challenges not seen in a few years.  No longer are properties selling in two or three days (or less), as the average time on the market for homes in King County has crept up to over 90 days according to the Northwest Multiple Listing Service (NWMLS).

For the last few years home sellers could pretty much have their home listed for a price higher than any other time in history and just sit back and wait for offers to roll in.  Many times there would be bidding wars and the sales price would even be higher than the asking price.  Talk about a crazy market!

Now things have changed and the local real estate market seems to be returning to a bit of normalcy, but there are definitely challenges ahead.

The good news is that there are a number of things a home seller can do to help make sure their home gets sold in a timely fashion for the best possible price.

1. Proper pricing.  This can be potentially the biggest factor in whether a home sells or not.  Many of today’s prospective sellers are stuck with the idea of constant double digit price increases.  Other sellers are simply fishing to find someone that is willing to pay too much.  The sellers who really want (or need) to sell their homes in a timely fashion are smart to price their homes reasonably.  Values are still around record levels, but sellers should be careful not to scare prospective buyers away with unreasonable expectations.
2. Make sure the property is clean and presentable.  Have the lawn mowed, the yard attended to.  Make sure the house is clean and tidy and free from clutter.  Some buyers can see past a messy property, but many cannot.  You cannot afford to turn anyone off.
3. Make the property feel lived in.  Proper ‘staging’ of a home is proven to help bring in buyers and offers.  Especially in unoccupied homes, it is very important to give buyers the idea of what a home feels like when it is lived in.  Using a professional staging company is preferable and usually pays for itself in multiples, but even proper placement of small pieces of furniture, kitchen and bathroom items, artwork and knickknacks can be very helpful to achieve this goal.
4. Maximum exposure.  Make sure that your home is listed on the local MLS (multiple listing service).  This way it can be seen and shown by thousands of real estate professionals in your area who may be working with the buyers you want to attract.  Make sure that your property is advertised – both in print and on the web. 
5. Get proper representation.  Statistics prove that sellers using the services of a REALTOR® or other real estate professional are able to achieve higher sales prices than those who don’t.  Make sure you choose someone who will work for you to achieve your goals – not theirs.

For more information on what is takes to get a home sold in today’s market, please give me a call at any time.

Joe Kennedy is a REALTOR® and real estate broker with AAA Properties, and specializes in flat fee listings and a la carte services for home sellers.  He can be reached at:  (425) 455-LIST (5478), (800) 441-LIST or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .