Preparing a house to go on the market is as much work for a realtor as it is for the homeowner. But according to Michael Noonan, sales representative at Royal LePage Credit Valley Real Estate, following five simple but important steps will help that “sold” sign appear quickly on the front lawn.

Condition of the home: Your home doesn’t get a second chance to make a first impression, so it’s got to be a good one. Home staging will help to accentuate the positive features of a home, and de-emphasize anything that’s less appealing. A thorough cleaning and strict de-cluttering will also make the space look better to potential buyers, allowing them to imagine their things in the space.

Listing price: Selecting the right listing price is a delicate task that will affect how long a house will sit on the market. Though homeowners often think their house is worth more than market value, this often isn’t the case and a competitively priced listing will encourage more potential buyers into the home, often increasing the chances of a quick sale.

MLS listing and photo: Posting a complete write up of the property online is “extremely important for the agents who are searching the properties online,” Noonan says. It’s equally important to post as many attractive pictures of the property online as well. A complete virtual presentation will be appealing to agents who are able to pass along the detailed information to their potential buyers.

Advertising: Often used when houses take longer to sell, print ads can take as long as a week or two before they actually make it to print, which means a house may have already sold. If not, the additional advertising can attract more potential buyers into the house, increasing the likelihood of a sale.

Timing: Like many things in life, timing is everything. In fact, Noonan suggests that there are even better days of the week on which to list a home that will maximize the exposure on the market faster.

To learn more helpful home-selling tips from Michael Noonan, visit his website at www.bramptondreamhome.com or view his informative videos at www.dailywebtv.com where you can learn something every day.