Price, location, and square footage are very important when selling a property. Beyond that, however, you can focus on these top 5 listing elements to turn your listing into a “must-see” property.

#1: Digitally Friendly Listing

Plenty of quality photos and a complete description that focus on the popular aspects of your listing are required. The Internet is your real 24/7 Open House opportunity. Use it wisely.

#2: Drop the Hysterics

It’s not the “MOST INCREDIBLE ALL-STAINLESS-STEEL kitchen!!!” It’s a “warm, modern kitchen perfect for family celebrations.” Lead with believable emotional benefits and descriptions, not hyperbole.

#3 Well-Maintained From Curb to Kitchen

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By Nadia Huliai

Real Estate Marketing Expert

Prudential Fox and Roach Realtors

2011 opened as a strong buyer’s market so home sellers must be on their toes to give their homes maximum appeal. Not only should sellers complete the home repairs they know must be made, they should also hire a certified home inspector to thoroughly and impartially evaluate their properties.

If this inspection results in a fix-it list, review the list with your real estate professional to establish necessities and priorities. Depending on your budget and objectives, you may want to repair only items that could cause significant deterioration to your property, such as a leaky roof. Ideally, the closer you can get your home to “move-in-ready” status, the more likely you are to attract today’s cautious and discerning buyers.

Among the most common repairs and enhancements yielding immediate buyer appeal include:

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If you’re planning to sell your house any time soon, home improvements that build property value should be on your to-do list. It’s a buyer’s market, and between tighter purse strings and plenty of properties to choose from, shoppers want homes that are move-in ready and free of the need for home improvement projects that will add to their own bottom lines.

Planning home improvements that pay you back at the time of sale requires a strategic vision as well as design, finish and product selections that welcome the widest possible range of buyer tastes. Drawing on tips from real estate pros, along with Remodeling magazine’s annual Cost vs. Value Report, here are 10 home improvements that pay you back when you sell.

Front entry doors: Curb appeal is the first step in a successful home sale, and installing a beautiful, high-quality entry door is a simple home improvement that delivers impact both in buyer drive-bys and online listings. A new entry door will also help lower home energy costs and stand up to weather extremes.

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By: Jane Hoback

You can repair kitchen counter mishaps with only a little time and money. Big boo-boos, however, will need professional help.

Granite

Even granite counters suffer kitchen wear and tear. But you can make them shine with a little time and know-how. After you fix them, don’t forget to reseal them.

Cracks, chips, scratches: Fill nicks in granite by building up layers of epoxy resin colored to match the stone. Clean the area first with acetone, which breaks down grease. Be sure to open a window for ventilation.

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Choosing patio paving materials begins with a decision about what kind of base to install. The base—the material that supports the pavers—must be firm, strong, and designed to stand up to years of foot traffic and weather.

The options include, sand, gravel, and concrete. Sand and gravel perform equally well, and cost about the same to install. Both sand and gravel bases are relatively easy do-it-yourself projects.

Both sand and gravel bases feature “dry set” paver installations—the paving materials are set in place, and then fine sand is swept into the joints between the materials to secure them. Every two or three years, fresh sand must be swept into the joints to replace sand that’s settled out, and pavers that have become loose must be reset. Expect to pay $2 to $3 per sq. ft. for a DIY job, and $3 to $5 per sq. ft. for a professional installation of the base alone.

A concrete base offers greater longevity and stability, with less potential for settling. On a concrete base, the paving materials are set permanently with mortar, and ongoing maintenance is minimal. Expect to pay $5 to $8 per sq. ft. for a professionally installed concrete base.

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Evaluate your yard for a patio by understanding costs, the shape of your property, and variables such as sun and shade.

In addition to helping expand usable square footage, patios add to the salability and curb appeal of your property, according to the American Society of Landscape Professionals. An attractive and functional landscape that complements the home and adds function increases value, too.

Mack Strickland of Strickland Appraisal Services, Inc., in Chester, Va., pegs patio recovery costs at anywhere from 30% to 60%, depending on the region of the country and material choices. “In general, the less elaborate and costly the improvement, the better your return on investment,” he says.

A $2,000 investment in a 12-by-12 foot brick patio, therefore, might roughly return an average of $900 at resale.

Here’s how to assess whether a patio makes economic and functional sense for your yard.

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If you are trying to decide which projects have the best return on investment, Remodeling Magazine

Cost vs Value report shows the top home renovations in 2010-2011 that might add  value to your home. They are:

BASEMENT REMODEL

MAJOR KITCHEN REMODEL

GARAGE ADDITION

ATTIC BEDROOM

WINDOW REPLACEMENT (VINYL)

WINDOW REPLACEMENT (WOOD)

SIDING REPLACEMENT (VINYL)

MINOR KITCHEN REMODEL

DECK ADDITION (WOOD)

GARAGE DOOR REPLACEMENT

ENTRY DOOR REPLACEMENT (STEEL)…

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by Prudential Fox and Roach

As the weather warms, so does the real estate market! What better way to kick of the season than learning about ways to better market your house when selling it?

Staging your house is a necessary step when selling it and many people tend to neglect it.  If done correctly, your house can look bigger, brighter, cleaner, warmer and, best of all, it makes a home buyer want to buy it!

Here are 4 tips to help you stage your home this selling season: more…

by Prudential Fox and Roach

Given today’s buyer’s market, it’s important for sellers to be aware of certain market trends in order to pique the interest of buyers.  In conjunction, it’s equally as important for sellers to be cognizant of their own home’s market value, a concern for many current sellers.  Whether planning to sell in a couple of weeks, months of years, value is crucially important.  If you have concern about your home’s assessment, there are plenty of ways to give it a swift boost before listing it on the market.

Refurbished rooms, such as basements, always go a long way n adding value to your property.  Most basements are empty storage spaces that are rarely seen to any non-inhabitants.  By turning the room into an entertainment area, bar or poker room, you add both value and character to the home — both traits that will be loved by buyers. more…

I am sure a lot of realtors heard their clients asking about the Zillow’s Zestimate price. I just wanted to show that the Zestimate which Zillow uses should never be taken seriously. Zillow itself explains how much inaccurate the data is. The screenshot below is taken from zillow so you can see the actual numbers. more…