Some of the most important steps to a successful sale involve what is done before you actually list your house. Talk with your Realtor (and yourselves) about why you're selling, what your neighborhood is like, how your house compares with others in the neighborhood, and how much work you're willing to do to sell it. The combination of these variables will determine how fast your house sells, and for how much.

Why are you selling? Job transfer? Upsizing or downsizing? Marriage (or divorce?) You should be giving serious thought about how much money you need to net from the sale of your house, and how quickly you need to sell it. If two houses are identical in every respect, the lower priced house would sell first. If they're priced the same, the house that's larger / nicer / cleaner / in a better neighborhood / has better features would sell first. Your sales strategy should take all these variables into account and compliment your reason for selling.

What is your neighborhood like? We have some neighborhoods here in the Northwest Valley where the builder had just a few different models, and many of the houses look similar to each other. (This isn't good or bad, it just is.) Houses in these neighborhoods are more like commodities; you need to be careful not to price your house "out of the market" since prospective buyers will most likely find a model similar to yours in the same neighborhood priced for less. We also have neighborhoods with custom and semi-custom homes, where you'll see more flexibility in the pricing; a buyer who likes your home will have to pay the price you're asking (within reason).

How does your house compare with others in your neighborhood? Size, features, amenities, landscaping, cleanliness, interior design, and home maintenance are all factors which will help determine how quickly your house will sell, or how much you'll be able to ask compared with the market prices in the neighborhood. Imagine a neighborhood where the average house sells for $400,000. Now imagine two houses next door to each other, both for sale. As you drive up, you notice one with overgrown bushes and shrubs, weeds in the lawn, and dusty windows around the front door. You walk inside and can't quite put your finger on what you smell: dirty sweatsocks? too many cats? You notice the flooring is a little worn, and you probably don't even make it far enough inside to see the standard-issue, builder-chosen appliances, fixtures, and flooring before you're headed back to your car! With this fresh in your mind, you check out the house next door. Perfectly manicured lawn. Colored flowers in the garden. Sidewalk is swept clean. You walk inside and the house smells fresh. The carpet looks newer, and still has vacuum marks on it. The kitchen has ceramic tile instead of linoleum, and the border around the room perfectly accents the spring-color painted walls. Have I said enough already? Obviously, if the houses are priced similarly, the second house will sell first. If both sellers are trying to sell in the same time frame, the second house can ask a significantly higher price.