Right now, there is a solid inventory of resale homes on the market. Indications are that, by early next year, inventories will be drawn down to a more normal level as new home builders finish adjusting their supply to meet the demand and sales continue apace.
So, what can home sellers do now to make their homes more competitive? A major way of differentiating your home from others is through proper staging. Home buying, being a typically emotional endeavor, can be strongly influenced by initial impressions and by the "gotcha" effect. Initial impressions begin as early as when the prospective buyer enters the neighborhood. Homes and the surrounding environment seen as the buyer approaches can have a significant impact on your home's desirability - for better or worse. There normally is not much you can do about neighboring homes except to contact the HOA or city if there are violations with regard to yard upkeep, etc.
Once on your property, buyers will initially take in the overall aspects of the home, as opposed to minutia (that comes later!). Is your landscaping being kept up? Does your home's exterior need painting or repair? These areas should be addressed before listing your home. Buyers seeing obvious signs of exterior neglect will assume the interior suffers the same and that there may be hidden defects that will be discovered only after moving in. I remember entering a submarine sandwich restaurant and observed dirty floors and tables. As I looked through the glass at the yellowing, encrusted mayonnaise, I could only imagine what else was lurking in the food they would have you purchase and eat. I, needless to say, beat a hasty retreat!
Having a home for sale that is not vacant can be an advantage - but only if it is kept uncluttered and clean. It helps to give buyers an idea of the beauty potential of a home by creating that atmosphere for them to see - even though they know it will all be gone when it is sold. However, what they don't want to see is what may remind them of the home they may be leaving - full of the typical clutter we all allow to crop up during the normal course of living! So, clean out those bookcases and garage shelves and store things not needed away from view.
Look at your home as through the eyes of a buyer - what would you want to see? If you are one of the many people who could use some help in decorating, consider using the services of an interior decorator. (note: Marielena, in addition to being a real estate agent, is a certified interior decorator, and can help stage your home for sale). For example, I buy and sell on EBay frequently. I realize there are usually many items for sale like the ones I am trying to sell. So, I work on differentiating my item from the others by using HTML (web language) to make a nice-looking ad, and add links that lead to the manufacturer's website so that the buyer doesn't have to hunt around for more information. I make easier for them, and as a result, have no difficulty in selling my items more quickly and for a higher price that the exact same item marketed with only a couple of photos and a mono-type description. You should market you home in the same way - although through the eyes of a buyer touring your home in person.
When you get an interested buyer, you can expect repeated viewings from them as they home in on your home. This is where the minutia becomes important. People initially get the overview on the first visit. On subsequent visits, they start observing more detailed aspects - dents, broken molding, tears in the carpeting, etc. Try to take care of as many of these items as possible in advance. It also makes the post-contract, buyer inspection period go more smoothly and can make it more likely that the buyer will go through with the transaction.
Good luck and start working to your staging advantage!