As a Staten Island real estate lawyer I can tell you that it is definitely a buyers market in the real estate world right now.  I think it is only fair that I offer my advice as to what you can do to help you get the most money when selling your Staten Island home.

It used to be that the Staten Island real estate market was a sellers market now as the economy has changed it has also changed the way the real estate market operates.

Here are some tips to help you sell your Staten Island home in todays market:

• Freshen up your home before you put your home on the market – you don’t necessarily need to completely renovate your home but it always helps to straighten up a bit.  Make sure your home is in top shape so that it will make the competition seem a little less appealing.  If your home needs a it give it a fresh coat of paint, pressure wash or sweep the walkway or the porch, mow the lawn and make sure the bushes are trimmed, in general you just want to make sure that your house will look appealing when someone comes to look at it.
• Get your home inspected – according to a recent report on MSN.com titled “How to sell in a buyer’s market” they recommend that in some cases it may be beneficial to have your home inspected prior to selling it.  Home inspections usually range from $200 – $400.  The only reason this will be beneficial to you, the seller, is to let you know ahead of time what problems your house may have if you do not plan on selling it “as is”.   The buyer of your home will more than likely order a home inspection also which will tell them the same information.  This is just a way to get ahead of the game and know what money you may have to put out to fix up any problems your home may have.  It will also give you more time to shop around for the best prices to have someone fix whatever is wrong with your home.
• Shop around for a good real estate agent – you want to make sure you end up with the right real estate agent that can help you sell your Staten Island home for the best price possible.  For more information on how to select the right Staten Island real estate broker click here to read an article I wrote on this subject.
• Select the right real estate lawyer – making sure you have the right real estate lawyer is a very crutial part of purchasing and selling your home.  Having the wrong real estate lawyer could make the difference between a smooth transaction and a very rough one.  Also, a good real estate lawyer will make sure your not spending any unnecessary money and at the same time will make sure you are protected in every aspect when your going through with your Staten Island real estate transaction.

If you are looking for a real estate attorney in Staten Island feel free to contact me, Steven Decker, at 718-979-4300.  Also feel free to visit my real estate blog at http://www.thenyrealestatelawblog.com to keep yourself informed of other important real estate issues and for more tips on how to purchase, sell and refinance your home.