Now more than ever before, people are looking for things that grab their attention and stand out from all the rest. This is why while some selling tactics are still very useful it is important to think outside of the box and do something just a little different. It may seem odd or even risky to some people, but you would be surprised at just how well it might work. Here are some new interesting and creative ways to sell your home in today’s market.

Ask your real estate agent for advice
One thing that you should always keep when trying to sell your home is your agent. Selling homes is their business and they have the experience and knowledge you will want on your side. They may have a few surprising ideas as well to help you sell your home.

Let Possible Buyers Stay the Night
This way sound odd and strange to many, but this is one of the new tricks many sellers are trying out and it may just be working. This allows buyers the chance to experience what it would be like to live in that home and to make sure the home is truly for them. If you want to include something extra, try baking some cookies or offering buyers a bottle of wine. It may just do the trick. Just make sure to set some rules.

Hire a House Sitter
Again, this may seem a little much, but if you have to move before your house sells, this may be a good idea. Many buyers do not like to buy a house if it is completely empty because it makes them feel less secure. However, if you hire a house sitter then they will get to see how the home looks lived in and may feel more comfortable. Make sure to pick a house sitter carefully though.

Swap Homes and Lives with a possible buyer
If you are looking for a home with some preferences as your buyer, then this may be a good idea. This will give both people a chance to live in the home for awhile and see how everything works and may just convince them to want to stay and buy it. Best of all, if you like their home too, everyone wins. Just make sure to set some guidelines for this too.

Sell to a builder
This may be a good idea if you like a certain builders’ new home. If that is the case, then they may agree to buy your home from you in exchange for buying one of their new homes. However, if you choose this idea, you may not make a large profit and if you owe more than you can pay, this may not be the best option.

Many of these home selling strategies may seem crazy or even completely ridiculous to many people, but if you are a time crunch or experiencing a drought in the number of possible buyers you have, then these ideas may be worth considering. They may just be what is needed to seal the deal and make everyone happier in the end.

Your home has been sitting on the market for three months, and you can’t figure out why. The price is fair, even under the market value for the home. The inside of the home is clean, uncluttered, and freshly painted. You’ve got one of the best seller’s agents, and still nothing seems to be working.

Consider these five easy ways to sell your home—FAST.

1. Judging the Book by the Cover

The first impression is always the strongest. While you should definitely make sure that the interior of the house you’re trying to sell is up to par, you need to pay extra attention to the first impressions your property makes. This might mean shelling out some money for a little (or a lot of) landscaping. Add some flowers and shrubs, even a tree or two. A new stone walkway or a few stylish yard decorations can also go a long way to pulling in potential buyers.

2. Playing the Numbers Game

Sure, you could get $250,000 for your home, if you were selling a few years ago. There are a lot of homes on the market right now, and while you want to make enough of the sale to make a profit, or at least to have enough to move into a new home, you don’t want to ask for too much. If there are three homes for sale on your street, and they’re all priced around the same amount, make your asking price a little lower. It can give you the edge you need over the competition.

3. If You’ve Got It, Flaunt It

What does your home have that other homes don’t? Pick out the best perks, and advertise them. Play them up during open houses (throw a few float in the pool, for example), and make sure that your agent lists them online and in brochures. This might be anything from a large deck or finished basement to something as simple as a new shower in the master bath. What ever will set your home apart, you need to use it to your best advantage.

4. Sweeten the Pot

This is especially effective if you have a buyer that’s sitting on the fence. Offer something more to close the deal. It could be offering to pay half, or even all, of the closing costs, or throwing in a couple new appliances. Do the buyers have kids? Throw in an assembled swing set and basket ball hoop (with balls), ready before they move in. The kids will be busy with their new toys, and the parents can move in and unpack without interruptions.

5. Ask for Help

If your home still isn’t selling, and you can’t figure out why, ask. Your real estate agent, other homebuyers, even objective and honest friends or family members might be able to clue you in to what you are missing. If you haven’t caught on yet, the good news is that it’s probably something small and easy to fix. Find out what it is, and take care of it. Make sure that you aren’t giving potential buyers a reason to say no.

Sure, a damp cloth run over the tops of tables and counters is enough for regular company, only a prospective homebuyer is NOT your typical company.  On some level, everyone knows cleanliness matters.  But too many houses aren’t showroom-ready when realtors bring in potential buyers.  Don’t be lazy about cleanliness.

Here are a few areas to pay particular attention to:

Bathrooms (shower/tub grout, drains, toilet, sink)
Bedrooms (mini-blinds, floorboards, under the bed, drapes)
Pet Areas (shed fur, scratched furniture/walls, pet urine smell)
Kitchen (refrigerator inside and out, stove inside and out, dishwasher, sink)

If you can’t get something sparkly new, consider replacing it.  $8 for a new shower curtain and $40 for new drapes is an investment in selling your home.  Now is not the time to pinch pennies.  If your home has an odor problem (a common issue with children and/or pets), strongly consider getting the carpets professionally cleaned even if it means shelling out $200.  If any walls are dingy or pockmarked with nail holes, it might make sense to invest in some new, bright paint.  Spring for some range covers or fresh hand towels, if needed.

An absolute must—clean fingerprints off all windows and glass.  Freshly cleaned windows let in more light, and most people simply prefer a bright home.  Sure, glass gets dirty at an astronomically fast rate, so this might require a weekly scrub-down.  Just do it.  And while you’re at it, rub some wood oil into your floorboards, furniture, and woodwork until it shines, shines, shines.

An hour before a scheduled homebuyer is visiting, run a Swiffer across all inside floors, and take a broom to the walkway, porch, deck, and garage.  First impressions really do matter.  Don’t let someone leave your home thinking about how much cleaning THEY’RE going to need to do if they make an offer on your house.  Make them walk away saying, “Now that’s a clean, lovely home.”

You have decided to sell your home and move on to the next chapter in your life. This is a very exciting and very eventful time for everyone. You may be packing up, making plans, and looking on to the future, but you are not sure what to do next to make your current home sell for the best value possible. Everyone has concerns about this and they want the new family to love your house as much as you did. These tips on home improvements you can do yourself may make selling your home easier and then you can move on to the future.

Contact your real estate agent
Your real estate agent knows about selling homes because it is their business to know. So do not hesitate to ask them for advice and help when getting your home ready to sell. It is their job to know what buyers are looking for and what helps a home sell best. This is a good first step before making any repairs.

Remove carpeting if you have hardwood floors
Many people these days like hardwood flooring. It also helps to make the house look more open and spacious which will help with a sale. It is important to have the hardwood floors refinished, so that they have that brand new look that buyers will like. This may also increase the value of your home.

Replace carpeting with neutral colors
Neutral colors are best when trying to sell a home because they do not take away from the feel or look of the rest of the home. They are also more pleasant for buyers to look at and make a buyer feel like the home could be theirs and is not already claimed.

Repair any cracked or broken titles
It is important that the home look in the best shape possible to get the best value. Making any repairs to the floors will help give the house that new feeling.

Paint and repair any walls
People spend more time looking at the walls of a new home. They look for any repairs they may have to make themselves.  It is important to use white or neutral colors when painting the walls. Also, it may be a good idea to take down wall paper because it is not personalized for a new buyer.

Replace or repair any kitchen or bathroom appliances
Another place people look when buying a home is in the kitchen and bathroom. If the appliances are new or look brand new, this may increase the value and you will be rewarded for this extra time.

Getting ready to sell your home on top of all the things you already have to do, can be hard work and stressful too. These tips can help you not only to sell your home easier but also help increase the value of your home. These tips will help you get on your way to selling your home and looking forward to your future.