When selling your Northern Virginia/South Carolina home, you want to highlight the positives and downplay the negatives.  To make sure your home sells as quickly as possible and for the best price possible, there are certain things you should focus on.  The following is a list of the top five things that sell a home:

The Price is Right - Obviously, this is a huge factor for many homebuyers.  The first two to three weeks a Northern Virginia/South Carolina home is listed will be the most active as far as potential buyers looking at it.  So, you want to price your home properly from the beginning, especially in today's real estate market.  Make sure you check out what homes in your area have sold for recently that have similar amenities and are similar in size.  Also, find out what they were originally priced for, what they actually sold for and how long they were on the market before they sold.  This will help you determine the correct price to list your home.  An experienced REALTOR® can help you with this.

Location, Location, Location - You hear it all the time when it comes to real estate.  Where your Northern Virginia/South Carolina home is located can make the difference between a quick sale and one that takes some time.  Even while many communities across the country were experiencing a severe downturn in home values, many prestigious and popular neighborhoods were almost immune.  That's because their properties were still considered highly desirable.  If you live in one of those neighborhoods, make sure to broadcast this prominently.  Always play up the positives of your home's location when trying to sell.

Neighborhood Amenities - How close are you to shopping, dining, entertainment, etc.?  More and more people are looking for Northern Virginia/South Carolina homes that are near these conveniences.  Do you live in a golfing community?  Is your property perfect for raising horses or can they be kept nearby?  How long does it typically take to commute to larger metropolitan areas where most of the jobs in your area are?  Buyers want to know that there are good schools and entertainment nearby.

The Condition of Your Property - Flippers (people who bought homes, fixed them up and sold them in a short amount of time) were a huge segment of the buying population when the real estate market was skyrocketing.  However, they have become a much smaller group since the downturn.  Nowadays, most Northern Virginia/South Carolina homebuyers are looking for a home that is move-in ready.  Go through your home thoroughly to make any necessary repairs or touch-ups before you list.

Curb Appeal - I say it all the time, you only get one chance to make a first impression.  And, since more and more buyers are turning to the internet first before they even decide which houses to physically look at, your curb appeal can be a make it or break it situation since photos will be the first thing they will see.  Keep the lawn and landscaping trimmed, put away all the toys and tools and get rid of any stains you may have on the driveway.  Put your home's best face forward to encourage buyers to see what's inside.

Those are the top five things that sell a home.  When you're ready to put your Northern Virginia/South Carolina home on the market, just let me know!

Gene Mock, your Northern Virginia, South Carolina and Washington DC real estate specialist