Five Ways to Improve Your Odds of Selling Your Home

Wrangling a rough market

Up your curb appeal with a brand new mailbox.

I do not envy anyone who is trying to sell a house right now. Though the housing market has picked up slightly over the past couple of months, it’s still pretty tough out there.

If you want to keep your house but feel you have to sell it because of high mortgage payments or a devalued home, you should look into mortgage loan modification before you stick a “for sale” sign in the yard. Loan modification can lower your payments and interest rate.

However, if you must sell your home because you are relocating, here are some ways to make your house more sellable.

1. Curb appeal

Everyone knows that curb appeal is king when it comes to selling a house. Some easy, quick, inexpensive fixes can improve your curb appeal in a jiffy. First, upgrade your mailbox. The yard can add or take away a lot from your curb appeal. Use nitrogen-rich fertilizer to get the grass its greenest, and get new mulch for beds.

Get rid of that old, rusty mailbox with a squeaky flag. Or, if your mailbox is in OK shape, slap a coat of paint on it. Replace hardware such as your doorbell, house numbers and door knocker. Never underestimate the power of shiny objects. No need to take out payday loans, the whole venture should only cost you about $200, according to CNN Money. ... click here to read the rest of the article titled "Five Ways to Improve Your Odds of Selling Your Home"