I just read an article about the Texas real estate agent who sold (Are you sitting down?) 4,700 homes worth over 1.9 billion dollars in 2017. I think we all understand he didn't do that all by himself, but the point is the guy knows how to sell homes. As real estate professionals (I was one in a former life) we gain a decent amount of knowledge over the years. With clients coming from every walk of life, we see homes in widely (wildly!) varying conditions and states of (dis)array. From a seller's agent perspective, this tends to be one of the more challenging parts of the job.

It is no secret that everyone wants the highest price for their home and buyers are itching to get the best deal they can. I was taught at an early age that the value of something is directly related to how much YOU are willing to give up for it, be that money, time, labor, etc. So when it comes to a home, if you are in the seller's shoes, you need to "primp" your home such that the next person walking through it deems it valuable enough to pay the price you have set (Again, no secrets there.) The challenge comes when sellers are simply too stubborn (or lazy?) to do what it takes to get their home sold. Let's take a quick cruise around the home and see if we can "de-stubbornize" a few of those trouble spots. The goal is to figure out why your home isn't selling in the first place and, more importantly, why nobody is offering you full price.

The most obvious place(s) to look are those pesky damage spots throughout the home. Nobody is saying it looks like you live in a post-graduation frat house, but nobody is NOT saying that either. I don't think I have ever lived in a home that did NOT have a dent or at least a scratch behind one or more of the interior doors. We all open doors too quickly or forcefully and leave that telltale half-moon crease in the sheetrock. Do yourself (and your agent) a favor and get those all cleaned up before the showings. Yes, it takes practice and time to do it well and make the damage invisible. But it IS possible. And it IS worthwhile. As I've said countless times: Your job as a seller is to remove any and all roadblocks on the path to the closing table. This one is a biggie and an easy one to fix.

Another fairly obvious trouble spot is the floor. Nobody (today) is asking you to rip up all your carpet and throw down hardwood flooring throughout the home. Just remove the carpet from the bathroom and kitchen (Yes, I've seen it in both places!). Without putting too fine a point on it, we all know there's unspeakable "ick" around that toilet. Why anyone thought this was a good idea is way beyond me. Rip that pee-sponge up and throw down some tile or linoleum. Heck, even bare plywood is a step in the right direction. Literally anything will be better than carpet.

While we're on the carpet topic, take a hard (honest) look at the carpet throughout the home. If there are lingering stains (or smells for that matter) that you simply can't eliminate, bite the bullet and replace it all. "It is a big decision to replace carpets in a home, but if the alternative is stained and smelly - the choice is already made," notes Badger Peabody & Smith Realty agent (formerly Badger Realty), Linda Walker. "Most buyers don't want to purchase a home that will need a couple thousand dollars of 'updates' just to be livable," she continued.

While we're on the topic of smells, there's a good chance your home is not selling simply because of your pet smells. We don't always perceive it when we are the owners, but you can be assured that every guest in your home is aware of it as soon as they walk through the front door. Even pet lovers will be alert and cautious about where the smell is coming from. The most obvious culprits are past markings by the males or even simple shedding and cat boxes. If you truly want to sell your home, get your pets out and spend a weekend deep-cleaning the carpets, upholstery, curtains and anything that could be harboring the scent of your beloved, four-legged family members.

There's no shortage of articles (and opinions!) about curb appeal. The one simple truth we can all agree on is that it has value and should not be overlooked. This starts with your lawn and shrubs and continues through the front walkway, the house paint and the overall condition of the property. Take the time to tidy up the lawn, re-mulch the shrubs, fix any broken stones or pavers and touch-up (or re-paint) the house. While none of these are particularly easy or inexpensive, each will pay dividends. The benefits are the fact that your yellow lawn, peeling paint and dying shrubs will not turn off the potential buyers and they will truly appreciate the idea of not having a substantial list of to-do's before they even walk in the front door.

You know I couldn't get through an entire article about selling real estate without talking about your clutter! Keeping it short and sweet, get rid of it or hide it. Nobody wants to see your junk, knick-knacks, dirty dishes or "priceless" collection of troll dolls. The cleaner (read: emptier) your home is during showings, the more likely you are to attract more offers. Now go get cleaning!