Pillar To Post Recommends Five Tips to Sell Homes Quickly, for the Highest Valuation

* A Few Smart Moves Can Gain Sellers Thousands of Dollars *

TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 1 /PRNewswire/ —

WHAT: Tips for home sellers to prepare homes for a rapid sale earning the highest valuation.

Despite grim news in the New York Times noting the pending home sale index has hit a record low, and it “hasn’t hit rock bottom yet”, savvy home sellers have discovered the secret to selling their homes. (New York Times, October 2, 2007).
    Here are a few ways strategic thinkers prepare to sell their homes:

    — Prelist Home Inspections. These inspections allow sellers to identify
       and repair problems rather than lose money during the sale. Statistics
       show that for every $1 of identified repairs, the buyer would ask for
       double that in a price reduction. Paying $5,000 to repair a roof is far
       more enticing than losing $10,000 in the sale.

    — Neighborhood Environmental Reports. These reports provide important
       information on known and potential contamination that may exist on or
       in the vicinity of a property. The seller could use this information to
       ensure buyers that the home is in an environmentally safe neighborhood.

    — An overview of the neighborhood's assets. A list of the neighborhood's
       assets can help sellers market the area's positive attributes along
       with those of the home. Nearby schools, parks, community pools or other
       features can add value for a buyer.

    — Minor interior cosmetic enhancements. Upgrading or enhancing elements
       in a home gives potential buyers the feeling that they can move in and
       feel comfortable in the home right away. Besides making kitchen and
       bathroom upgrades and cleaning floors and windows, the entry way should
       be well lit, clean and uncluttered, as it's the first room a potential
       buyer evaluates.

    — Minor exterior cosmetic enhances, curb appeal. Establish the right
       first impression by making a home's exterior more appealing. Make
       certain the lawn is green and mowed. Evaluate any stone walkways to be
       certain they're even. Plant flowers to add color and vibrancy.

WHO: Dan Steward, President of Pillar To Post, North America's largest home inspection service (http://www.pillartopost.com). Steward can share stories (and contact information) of sellers who used home inspection to help them negotiate a higher price for their home. In addition, Pillar To Post can offer interviews with realtors, sellers, and key executives from various home inspection associations who are all seeing sellers turning to new strategies to sell homes.

Steward joined Pillar To Post as President in 2004, bringing more than 25 years of business experience to the position. Steward's charter is to support and extend the consistent growth of the company, ultimately touching over 90% of the home buying population in the U.S. and Canada.

Prior to joining Pillar To Post, Steward was Vice President from 2000 – 2004 of the Fortune 500 company Iron Mountain Corp., and Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of Shred-It Group of Companies from 1998 – 1999. He has extensive work experience in the United States, Canada, Europe as well as north Africa and The Middle East.

WHEN: Mr. Steward is available for phone and in-person interviews now.

WHERE: Mr. Steward is based in Toronto, Canada

SOURCE Pillar To Post

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