“The way you live in your home and the way you sell your house are two different things.” Barb Schwarz, author “Home Staging”

Most sellers think of their homes as a place full of memories… they’ve personalized their living space to fit their lifestyle. Buyers, on the other hand, are looking for a house that they can move right into… they’ll personalize it later on.

Let go and move on. Let go of your home and begin to think of your house – a product that will attract buyers and sell because it’s priced right and looks better than the competition.

Five Simple Steps to sell your home faster… at the best possible price. Here’s what you can do.

1. Pack Up Early ~ Most people pack after their home has sold… but why not get a head start now? You’re going to have to pack anyway. Rent storage space or set aside a place in the garage. You’ll be moving soon, so this is your chance to box and label your belongings to make your move to your new home a lot easier.

2. Clean Everything ~ Clean floors, baseboards, ceiling fans, kitchens, exhausts, appliances, cupboards, bathrooms, tubs, showers. Clean the windows. Clean every exposed surface in the house. Clean inside and outside. Eliminate all odors. Clean houses are more appealing… buyers assume that clean houses are well cared for.

3. Eliminate Clutter ~ Getting rid of clutter is just as important as cleaning… in fact, they go together. You’ll have to move your clutter anyway in order to clean your exposed surfaces. Why not move them only once? If you haven’t used an item in the last month, pitch it… or pack it away. Remember, you are selling space, not your things.

4. Remove Excess Furniture ~ Less is more when it comes to furniture. Keep the basics and get rid of the extras. Then rearrange the remaining furniture to create more space. Try different room arrangements until the room looks spacious and open to you. Less furniture means more space… that’s what buyers are looking for.

5. Paint It ~ A simple, coordinated, neutral, color scheme will make your house look larger… brighter… more appealing to buyers. Why? Because buyers can move right in without having to do anything. You may be able to clean, patch and touch up your walls if you already have a neutral color scheme. However, consider re-painting rooms with bright colors and bold patterns… buyers consider these rooms as more work for them.

FOR MORE INFORMATION on how to sell your house for more money, call me at 843-902-0204. BARBARA CHARTIER, Century 21 Coastal Lifestyles

Resource: “Home Staging” by Barb Schwarz.

A new study of six price categories shows the highest number of homes for sale on the Grand Strand market are in the $150,000 to $250,000 price range, with 2,095 homes. That’s a year’s worth of home inventory.

Agents listing homes in this price range say they’re battling builders’ new incentive packages - and sellers have only one choice if they want to sell: lower the price.

The study, which looked at the number of listings and sales in Horry and Georgetown counties’ Multiple Listing Service, shows a “shortage” of supply in the under-$150,000 range, said Tom Maeser, president of the Fortune Academy of Real Estate, who conducted the study.

• But the other price ranges, starting at $150,000 and up, show an oversupply as they grow from 11.5 months of supply to 54 months of supply for million-dollar homes, he said.

• What’s interesting is the higher price ranges are selling at about the same pace they were a year ago, but the sales pace for homes under $250,000 has slowed dramatically.

• Maeser said that’s because of the loss of investors and tightening on subprime loans and higher interest rates.

The lesson from the study is to price your home right and make sure you’re competitive with builder prices including incentives, he said. If the resale market becomes at least 20 percent cheaper than new homes, buyers will start taking notice, he said. It’s about a 12 percent difference right now.

Here’s an overview of the study’s price ranges and recent activity.

• Homes under $150,000 have the fewest months of supply - with only 665 on the market - and analysts say there’s room for more, especially since that’s the price range that the Strand’s work force can afford. Condos in this price range have the second-largest inventory amount of 2,047. That’s a 19-month supply.

• The $150,000 and $250,000 price category has the highest number of homes and condos on the market. It’s the popular price point for many national builders. Analysts say sellers must price right and keep a close eye on builder prices. There are 3,597 condos in this group - the highest of any price range. That’s 37 months of inventory - the longest of all the condo pricing categories.

• Homes between $250,000 and $350,000 have the second-highest supply of homes, taking 16 months to sell based on today’s sales pace. For condos, this category will take the longest to sell, with a 37-month supply.

• The $350,000 and $450,000 range has 704 homes on the market for a 21-month supply. Agents say homes in this price range must really be the best value in the neighborhood. Condos in the price range are seeing a 29-month supply with 929 units on the market.

• The $450,000 to $1 million category has 1,195 homes on the market with a 3-month absorption rate. Sales in this price range have dropped since last year from 531 sales to 420. Among condos, the absorption rate is smaller - 24 months - with 1,285 units on the market.

• There are 487 homes above $1 million on the market with a 54-month supply. Sales are down 24 percent since last year in this price range. About 91 condos are for sale above $1 million with a 35-month supply.

Source Jenny Burns, The Sun News, Myrtle Beach, SC