If you're getting ready to put your house on the market, your mind is probably flooded with dozens of unanswerable questions. Much of your uncertainty may revolve around the marketability of your home and how quickly a qualified buyer will come along.

Although there are factors over which you have little control, there are several things you can do to tip the scales in your direction.

Other than sprucing up your home and yard to maximize their visual appeal, choosing a top-notch real estate agent is the single most important step you can take. It's not only crucial to select an agent who is both experienced and proactive, but you'll also want to find a professional with whom you have a good rapport. You can usually get a pretty good idea of their experience and sales history from online profiles, but the only way to know whether they're a good fit for your needs and personality is by meeting with them face to face.

If you have the time and inclination, it can also be to your advantage to interview more than one candidate. The agent you ultimately choose will have a direct bearing on virtually all aspects of the sales process. By choosing a professional who is dedicated, knowledgeable, and easy to work with, you'll be taking a big step toward getting your house sold within the shortest period of time. A good agent will keep you motivated, informed, and focused on keeping your home in marketable condition. They'll also help you with everything from pricing and negotiating to problem solving and setting up appointments.

There are several other things you can do to increase the chances of attracting potential buyers and offers. Creating as much curb appeal as possible can go a long way toward making a great first impression. The concept of curb appeal can encompass many different elements, but the battle is half won when your lawn, bushes, and trees are kept neatly trimmed at all times. Weather permitting, displaying colorful potted flowers and hanging baskets is another way to add a lot of eye appeal to your home. Simple improvements like painting your front steps, sealcoating your driveway, or touching up the paint on window shutters or porch railings can also help enhance your home's curb appeal.

Although interior painting can be time-consuming and a bit messy, it's often one of the most cost-effective ways to make a positive impression on potential buyers. If your walls are looking scuffed, faded, or otherwise neglected, a fresh coat of neutral, beige, or grey paint can often make a huge difference in the eye-appeal of your home. Making sure your carpets are clean, counter tops are immaculate, and your windows are crystal clear are other ways to put your best foot forward when house hunters are scheduled to visit your home.

Tweet

When choosing a color scheme for the rooms of your home, you may put a lot of thought into what color combinations look good together. There are actually many colors that go together. The bigger question is, will these color combinations stand the test of time? There are certain color combinations that always look good and stand the test of time. 

Shades Of Blue

Blue has become thought of as a neutral color. It looks good in many different rooms of the house. Accents of other neutral colors can easily be added to the room and look great. You can mix and match shades of blue. Dark blues look great with lighter shades of turquoise or sky blue.  

Black And White

This seemingly simple color combination comes with a lot of class. Because of the high contrast of the two colors, it looks quite sophisticated. It works in many different rooms. Accents of silver, wood, and even some warmer colors like shades of red that pop can add definition to a room with a black and white base.  

Tan With Blue Or Green

Shades of tan or beige go along really well with blues and greens. With a beige base, it’s possible to really make accents of other earthy tones stand out in a room. 

Gray With Blue Or Green

Just as tans go along really well with blue and green shades, so to do shades of gray. The gray base provides a soothing palette for earthy tones to shine through.

Gray And Shades Of White

Just like black and white shades of gray (usually darker tones) go along well with many different shades of white. With these two very neutral colors at the base of a room, it allows other colors to shine through. You don’t even need to focus on earth tones. Allow your imagination to flow and choose from a variety of colors of the rainbow.

Green And Brown

With touches of white mixed in- even a white wall, you can really make green and brown work well together without making a room seem like a jungle. You can give the room touches of other earth-toned accents in order to bring depth in the space.  

Blue Shades And Gray With White

These colors may all look kind of bland on their own, but when you put them together, they shine. The 3 colors together make a usually cool color scheme seem warmer and more inviting. Just remember if you’re using a shade of deep blue not to overdo it in any room as it can be overpowering.  

When you choose your colors wisely, your home will never go out of style. As you can see, there’s plenty of workable color combinations that allow you to keep your home looking stylish.

Tweet

 Buying your first house can be scary because, admittedly, there are a lot of things that can go wrong! That's one of the reasons that working with a real estate agent is such a good idea. An experienced agent can guide you through the complicated process of buying a home and help you navigate the potential pitfalls of becoming a new home owner. He or she can also zero in on your priorities and assist you in getting the most for your money. A real estate agent can help you stay on track, find the resources you need, meet closing deadlines, and locate homes that live up to your requirements. In choosing a buyers' agent to assist you in matching your needs (and budget) to the available real estate inventory in your area, three important attributes to look for are experience, knowledge of the real estate market, and negotiating skill.

When it comes to negotiating, the vital truths that many first-time home buyers forget are that "everything's negotiable" (or pretty close to everything) and that the asking price of a property is often not the lowest price a seller is willing to accept. A lot depends, of course, on market conditions and the demand for a particular property, but it pays to have a real estate professional in your corner when making offers. Good agents have a knack for identifying "bargaining chips" that can help you negotiate a lower price, gain concessions from the seller, and potentially save thousands of dollars now and over the term of your mortgage.

One of the biggest things first-time homeowners forget is that "there's more to a house than meets the eye". That insight can be viewed from both a positive and negative perspective.

• The negative side: Even though a real estate listing may look like the house of your dreams, there could easily be hidden problems like termite infestations, plumbing repair issues, structural problems, hidden mold growth, noisy neighbors, and so on. Except for the potential problem of noisy (or nosy) neighbors, a reputable real estate inspector can help you identify a wide range of structural flaws and other "red flags" before you sign on the dotted line.
• The positive side: One key thing that many home buyers don't always consider is the future potential of a house or property. With a little imagination, budgeting, and planning, a less-than-perfect house can be developed into exactly what you and your family want and need. Kitchens can be updated, bathrooms can have new vanities and fixtures installed, porches can be screened in, and backyards can have fences built or hedges planted for improved privacy. 

Tweet