The Houston real estate market, much like any other market in the United States, is still very much a buyer’s market. Things are starting to look up, as evident by the positive numbers posted for the last quarter of 2009, but it is still a competitive market for sellers. In other words, there is still an influx of homes on the market, just waiting to be sold.

So, you’ve listed your home on the market, only to see that, in your neighborhood alone, there are a half-dozen homes on the market that are similar to yours. What can you do to make yourself stand apart from the competition?

The answer: plenty.

1. Offer new appliances – Most buyers would love to have new appliances in their new home, so consider purchasing new appliances before listing your home for sale. The few thousand dollar investment will certainly be worth your while.
2. Consider closing cost assistance – One of the most popular ways to gain a competitive edge is to market your home with the offer of closing cost assistance. Many buyers, particularly first-time buyers, would love the chance to save on their out-of-pocket expenses at closing. Many times, sellers will offer to pay half of the buyer’s closing costs, for example.
3. Price it right – There is absolutely no better way to gain a competitive advantage over other homes in your neighborhood is to price it right – from the beginning! If you want to sell your home in this market, you must price it to sell; otherwise, it will end up sitting on the market for an extended period of time –even after you lower the price.
4. Make it move-in ready – Buyers of today, because there is often such a large selection of homes on the market, want a home that is move-in ready. A turn-key Houston home is a home in which all repairs, upgrades and updates have been made; in other words, the only thing a buyer has to do is turn the key and settle in. Repairs and improvements to consider: replacing worn or stained carpeting; painting all of the walls with a soft, neutral color; updating all light fixtures and faucets; and performing any small repair jobs.