Dawn Isenhower Sibcy Cline Realtors

With over 14,000 properties for sale in the Greater Cincinnati area, it is easy for listings to get relegated to "the pile" of inventory for many reasons. Here are some tips so that you can avoid being thrown on the pile (and what a deep pile it is).

1. Be ready to price your home appropriately. Avoid insisting on a price based on emotion, what you paid for the house, or what you need out of it. In many areas, you are competing with foreclosures and short-sales. They make up the market, so be prepared to demonstrate your value.

If your price is higher, clearly demonstrate why that is the case. If you are not prepared to do so, it is advisable to stay off of the market until conditions improve, or your home will end up on "the pile." Overpriced homes will not sell in this market. If someone does happen to make an offer, the home will not appraise, and the deal will fall apart.

2. Make sure that your condition is the best that it can be. Get a pre-inspection to head off any problems during the inspection period. There is absolutely no room for clutter or disrepair in this market, unless you want to price the home below market value.

Some would advise getting estimates to show the buyer how much something will truly cost to fix. While that is never a bad idea, I would suggest fixing the problem. If you cannot, you must price yourself appropriately in the market to compensate. If not, you may get put on "the pile."

Think of purchasing a sweater. The store may give a discount for a run in the sweater, but will that really help? Most people will pay a little more for the sweater that does not have to be repaired-especially since most of us do not know how to make the repair. That sweater stays on the rack, and it may never sell.

3. Demonstrate your value by offering incentives that no one else if offering. Pre-inspections, home warranties, a year of HOA fees paid, property taxes paid for the first year, seller-paid closing costs, etc. Instead of offering incentives to buyer agents, offer them to the buyers who will be making decisions about what home they will purchase. This may help to keep you off of "the pile" if price and condition are appropriate as well.

4. Be ready to respond to changes in the market quickly. This market is constantly changing, and appraisers are looking for the most up-to-date market information to use in their appraisals. Be ready to change with the properties that have sold most recently, instead of feeling cozy with those Active listings that have not yet sold.