Tips for selling in today's market

               Consider hiring a professional photographer and home-
stager to make your house look its best in marketing material and
during open houses.

Do the home staging before putting the house on the market — the
first 30 days a house is on the market is critical.

Price it right. Compare it to other, similar properties, do a market
analysis, listen to a qualified real estate agent or Realtor.

Put a fresh coat of paint inside and out as needed.

Weed the garden and mulch flowerbeds.

Consider taking a loss if you've got equity.

Make sure the Web presentation puts the best foot forward — when
writing a description of the property for the listing, use whimsy and
humor; tell a story.

Consider a pre-marketing home inspection to identify and fix problems
potential buyers might find.

If you are living in your home, keep it in a high state of readiness so
that it could be prepared for a showing within 15 minutes to a half-hour.

Source: Local real estate agents.
Donna Caselden of Staged for Sale rearranges some of the decorations in
the living room of 88 Heath Road in North Andover, which is for sale. Some of
the changes she made in this living room were to take down personal
photographs and reorganize bookshelves.
Amy Sweeney / Staff photo
978.515.7296