The other month we shared about what a sizzling real estate market we're seeing in Everett, and things have not slowed down. We're in one of the strongest seller's markets we've seen in years. That doesn't mean you can just slap a sign in the front yard and get top dollar for your Everett home, though. Here are 5 tips if you're thinking about selling:

1. Get a Realtor.
Okay, we admit it, we're totally biased since we're Realtors. If you look at the statistics, though, sellers who use professional representation make more money (according to a 2015 study conducted by the National Association of Realtors, the typical for sale by owner home sold for $210,000 compared to $249,000 for agent-assisted home sales). Working with a quality experienced agent will not only help get a better return, but it will also help make the process go much smoother for you. We can even recommend a good Everett agent to you if we're not the right fit for the job.

2. Clean, declutter, and then clean some more!
When it comes to getting your house ready for market, less is more. Especially when it comes to personal items. The day your house hits the market it becomes a product, so the 29 portraits of Sally and Suzy adorning the walls are going to have to disappear for a while. And that old Everett basement of yours you haven't cleaned out in 20 years? It's time. You're going to have to do it when you move anyways, so you might as well do it before you put your house on the market. Whether its garage sales, storage units, or a friends basement (mwahaha), cut the clutter and get that old house spit shined!

3. Get a pre-inspection.
Especially if you have one of those sweet old historic Everett homes that we all love so much. If you've been there a long time and haven't been in the crawl space, attic, walked the roof, or checked out the electrical, it might be a good idea to have an inspector look things over ahead of time. 99% of buyers are going to be having the home inspected anyways, so it's nice to know if you need any repairs ahead of time. Your Realtor should be able to recommend a good local inspector. 

4. Freshen up the aesthetics. 
You've decluttered and cleaned. Fixed all that crap the inspector convinced you was in need of fixing. Now it's time to earn the real buyer brownie points and cute it up. Think marketability. Whether it's fresh paint, flooring, new curtains or sink faucets or simply sprucing up the front yard, you want your house looking its best. Your agent should be able to help advise you on wise repairs to maximize your return, and help with staging furniture. 

5. Price it right!
It always comes back to money in the end, right? We know all sellers (that are human, anyways) want to make as much money as possible. The week you put your home on the market you will get the highest amount of interest in your home. So over pricing it is a sure way to ruin a first impression. Yes, you can always lower the price later, but in a hot market like this, everyone will wonder, "Hmm, what's wrong with it? Why hasn't it sold yet?". 

Many sellers are waiting to review offers until a home has been on the market for a full week. When homes are priced fairly, in a seller's market like this, this is when we see prices getting bid up higher through multiple offers and competition amongst buyers. It's frustrating being on the buying end in this market, but the fact is, we need more sellers!

If you're interested in getting a free market analysis on your home, click here. We're always happy to help with your Everett Real Estate needs.

Garret + Tyler
Everett Advocates + Realtors

Garret and Tyler are the founders of Live in Everett. They play racquetball three times per week (Tyler always wins, but only because he has longer arms) and they sell real estate.