I thought it might be time to revisit some Seattle seller tips! Obviously, I think you should hire a FULL SERVICE REALTOR, but you can skip that tip for now....

1. Housekeeping- Hire a housekeeper - You want your home to shine! The extra money will most likely be worth the investment.
2. Lawn Maintenance - Your curb appeal will go to zero no matter what the interior looks like if the outside is bad...you want to get buyers inside to see how great your house is!!!!
3. Process, process, process!!!! - This is something I have to go through weekly - okay, daily - in my own house. I call it processing. It is simply going through clutter and sorting it into piles - charitable contributions, trash, give away to friends, recycling, keep. It is helpful to do this regularly, but taking the time to do a big process job on your garage and closets can really pay off! Buyers will see all of the space you have in your home instead of all of the stuff.
4. Dress Cabinets & Closets - You should really consider this even if it seems silly. Take the merchandising approach and color code your closets - hang clothing by shades of color and really make your closet look like a rack at The Gap! The same thing can be done with your kitchen cabinets - turning all the labels on the cans outward and making sure the pantry is organized and not cramped is vital. Time to go drop off that very much needed donation at the food bank, I think. 
5. Storage - Make the investment to store extra furniture or clothes that fill up closets and garages. Clear your kitchen counters of appliances and clutter. Your home needs to scream spaciousness and plenty of storage.
6. Vacate the premises during showings - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE Leave your house well before showings! You want the buyers to be able to picture themselves in your home. They can't do this with you in it. It is also uncomfortable for buyers to be in your home with you there.
7. Buyer Incentives...Offer to pay closing costs or some other form of bonus to help out or "sweeten the pot" for a buyer when they are making a purchasing decision. They have lots to choose from right now and helping them make it easier to choose your home above the others is key!
   
8. Selling Office Commission: Don't discount it - Pay the buyer's agent well!!! That agent is the hero who is bringing you a qualified buyer!!! I would even consider offering an agent bonus! It might encourage them to bring even more buyers back!
9. Price your home right! Doing all of the above won't matter if you don't price your home correctly. (Again, your full service Realtor is qualified to do this! )Also please keep in mind that starting a bit lower could not only get you multiple offers even in this market. More importantly, starting lower would save you thousands and thousands in carrying costs that your home would be incurring while it sits on the market at a higher price!
   
10. OKAY #10...HIRE THE FULL SERVICE REALTOR who has a STRONG WEB Presence..You don't need discounts in this market!!!  Hire someone who is proficient with the internet and can get your house on the web in multiple locations.  The majority of home buyers are starting their searches now online - you want your house to be in front of them!

 Looking for Seattle listings?  Interested in Brier real estate?  Lynnwood WA real estate?  Mountlake Terrace real estate?  realestate@cooperjacobs.com

Courtney Cooper ....For all your Seattle Washington Real Estate Needs! Seattle Area Real Estate Agent: Broker and Realtor serving North King & South Snohomish County.  Seattle Real Estate and Seattle Suburbs!  Cooper Jacobs Real Estate Services:   Experienced REALTOR with a background in accounting - I love my clients and work hard for them! Please call me if you are looking for a home or investment property (including short sales, preforeclosures, foreclosures, and REO properties) in Seattle (Ballard, Crown Hill, Phinney, Ravenna, Maple Leaf, Green Lake (Greenlake), Greenwood, Northgate, Lake City,University, Sand Point, Laurelhurst, Windermere, Fremont, Wallingford, Queen Anne, Westlake, Eastlake, Lake Union, Downtown, Madison Park), Seattle Suburbs Homes in Shoreline, Edmonds, Redmond, Kirkland, Brier, Lynnwood, Mountlake Terrace, Lake Forest Park, Bothell, Mill Creek, Everett, or other Seattle Suburbs!