(ARA) - When you're ready to sell your home in the current market, you need to take every step you can to ensure a timely sale at the price you want. A surplus of homes for sale means that yours needs to stand out in style, amenities and quality to make an impression on potential buyers. The more steps you take to make your house sale-ready, the better results you'll get.

Currently, home sales are at a historic low -- so what do you need to do to buck that trend?  Updated decor and proper staging certainly help present your home well, but don't think that cosmetic fixes are all you need. Buyers want to know the home they're considering is safe and sound, and the best way to establish that is to hire a home inspector.

Twenty years ago, it seemed extravagant to hire a home inspector, but today it's standard practice. Buyers will often bring their own inspectors to the table, so you need to start by hiring one yourself. Hiring a professional will give you a realistic perspective on what's going on in the bones of your home.

"In a down market, a pre-sale inspection can make a home stand out," says David Tamny, president of the American Society of Home Inspectors. "More and more, sellers are obtaining pre-sale inspections to help uncover and address potential issues before the first prospective buyer walks through the door. This simple step allows for better planning and lowers repair costs, adds value to the home, and it could increase the likelihood of an offer."

Even if someone in your family is handy, a professional home inspector will be able to point out issues that might go unnoticed by someone who doesn't know the ins and outs of inspecting. Today's buyers are quick to point out flaws uncovered by the home inspectors they bring with them, particularly if the flaws could compromise health or safety.

Buyers can use problems as bargaining chips, causing previously agreed upon prices to be lowered or even the cancellation of a deal. Inspections help uncover imperfections that often can be fixed easily and inexpensively, so it's worth it to get your home inspected before you list it.

In addition, a good inspection can raise the likelihood of an offer being placed on your home. Buyers are looking for security. If you can show them your home has been inspected, they'll feel more comfortable with it. That confidence often equates to more dollars in your pocket when you agree to the sale.

The areas covered in home inspections are: the major systems and components such as the foundation, exterior siding, flashing and trim, the roof, plumbing, electrical and heating and cooling units. In addition, some home inspectors offer additional services including radon testing, energy assessments and pool and spa inspections.

The current housing market requires a proactive approach to selling, and to get the result you want, you have to think about every aspect of your home. Having a home inspection can add value to the property, speed up the negotiation process, increase the likelihood of an offer and, most importantly, help sell your home.

It's a tough job to sell a house in today's market and to sell a house quick, it's even tougher. There are fewer qualified buyers, housing prices are down, and the buyers who are out there are looking for bargains. They are also pretty picky about what they want to find in a home.

When it comes to selling a home, what you do and how you do it can directly impact whether you can sell your home as well as how long it takes. A real estate company will expect you to work hard at packaging your property, but they will only advise you about what to do. They will not do the work for you, even to earn their 6%. A home stager will want to be paid for everything they do to help make your house marketable and make you work, too.
But maybe you need all the money you can get for your house. Maybe you really can't afford to pay for all these so-called experts.

Here are some things to avoid if you want the fastest sale possible.

1. Fail to clean up. Cleaning is one of those things you have to do to sell a house. A dirty house will sit on the market…forever...and ever...and ever… You might be able to sell a dirty house if you price it right, but be prepared to gut the price. People don't want to clean up your dirt without some real incentive.

2.Price your house too high. Yes, maybe the new houses down the road are selling for big money. But any new house has nothing to do with the price of an old house. It's like used cars. As soon as you drive them off the lot they are used and worth less $$$. It's also true that current market conditions may either negatively or positively affect the value of your property. The boom is over. Get used to it.

3.Fail to advertise. Real estate companies have slashed advertising budgets. You can get the word out by telling all your friends and coworkers that your house is for sale. Your neighbors may want to pick their new neighbor. Check out local papers and anything else that occurs to you. Make a video and put it on the net.

4.Not making it easy for people to come see your house. Lookers can't buy your house if they can't look at it. They will just move on to the next property. If you can't get them in the door, you can't sell.

Selling a home is a difficult task these days. A lot of the work will be yours to do whether you hire a real estate company or not.

A great way to make your property more attractive to buyers is to offer owner financing. Forget granite counter tops. Money considerations take precedence over décor. If you have a good bit of equity in your home you may be able to find a buyer who can't meet banker standards but can still pay for a home. Get a good down payment, check credit and charge enough interest to make the note into something you may be able to sell later.



About the Author:Paula and Ron Stone own a note buying business, buying private mortgage and business notes. Learn more about note buying and selling at their websites at Note Buyer and Mortgage Buyers