Has your home been on the market for awhile without generating much interest or activity? Wondering of you should take it off the market?

Before throwing in the towel, give these top 8 tips to SOLD a try.

1. Make the Most of That First Impression.
Trim shrubs, manicure the lawn, plant a few bright flowers, and get rid of clutter on the porch and patio. In addition, a freshly painted, or at least freshly scrubbed front door, goes along way toward making your home more attractive than the other homes on the market. Make that first look in the house positive. A vase of flowers and the smell of apple cinnamon will work wonders!

2. Time Invested Pays Dividends.
If you really want to ‘clean up’ in real estate, tidy the living room and box up most photos, nic-nacs, books and magazines, and even remove extra pieces of furniture. If your home is too personalized, buyers will have a hard time picturing themselves living there. Make the kitchen and bathrooms sparkle. Replace old caulk around tubs and showers. Hang a new shower curtain and  towels and remove all those shampoo bottles from view! Consider doing a little painting in neutral colors, update a few light fixtures or replace cabinet hardware.

3. Make Space.
Remember buyers are looking for storage space. Clean out closets, attics, and basements. The better organized a closet, the larger it appears. Put the extra ‘stuff’ in a storage unit while marketing your home so it feels more open and spacious.

4. Create Dream Bedrooms.
For a spacious look, get rid of excess furniture. Colorful bedspreads and fresh curtains help buyers imagine themselves relaxing there. Clear away all personal items from night stands and dressers. Buyers don’t want to sleep in YOUR room. Empty surfaces allow them to picture their stuff  there. Again, a vase of fresh flowers adds the right touch.

5. Open Up, Lighten Up.
Let the sunshine in! Pull back the curtains and drapes so prospective buyers can see how bright and cheery your home is. Studies have shown that people linger twice as long in rooms filled with natural light, as they do in rooms lit artificially. At night, turn on the excitement by turning on all the lights. Inside and outside. Lights add color and warmth and buyers will feel welcome.

6. Man’s best friend isn’t your buyer’s best friend.
Dogs and cats are members of the family and great companions, but can become  huge turn-offs to prospective buyers. When your home is being shown, do everybody a favor and take Kitty and Spot out with you, or at least keep them, their toys, their food, and odors out of the way. You might have to ask a trusted friend for honest feedback on this one!

7. Keep a low profile.
Potential buyers feel like intruders when they enter a home filled with people. Turn off the TV and Radio. It’s best if you can plan to be out of the house or at least stay in the background when your home is being shown. Prospects want to view the home with minimal distractions. Allow them privacy and time to honestly discuss their impressions and concerns with their partner and agent. And no matter how tempting, refrain from offering any unsolicited information about your home, or mention furnishing you’d be willing to sell to buyers. You could loose the biggest sale of all!

8. Relist your house for a kick-start.
Homes that have been on the market for a while can seem ‘stale’ to prospective buyers. By taking your home off the market for a period of time, it can be relisted with a new listing number, which generates fresh interest. Above all, listen to your agent! Adjust the selling price and terms if recommended. Remember, since 87% of today’s buyers compare homes online, they recognize good home values when they see them!