During the next 14 months everyone across the globe will be paying careful attention to the athletes competing in the 2014 Olympics. As we analyze every big play and scoff at mistakes, we want to also drive attention to your home. Selling your home is a competition and if your property has any flaws, they will be spotted. You will lose money, and you will lose buyer interest. It’s a case where an Olympian would lose their chances at a medal — and that applies to homeowners as well.

For this special month, we want to keep Anchorage home sellers in Olympian shape. Don’t let the frost take away from your home’s appeal, nor should you let your neighbors steal potential buyers’ attention. See what medal your home deserves and whether you are in the best shape to sell right now:

Gold Medal Home

Stand proud and feel the heat of the Olympic flame. If your home has these qualities, you’ll have no trouble getting what your home is worth in Anchorage:

You personalized your home to the Anchorage lifestyle (outdoor activities), featuring convenient places to store sports and winter equipment.

You updated fixtures and paint colors to give your home a fresh look, letting buyers picture the longevity in your home.

Space and storage has tripled since you cleaned up the clutter and packed away things for your move.

You have priced your home competitively and done your research to attract multiple offers.

The front yard and entryway are prepped to receive guests, providing ample room for them to hang their coats and shake off their boots. (A warm welcome is always golden.)

Silver Medal Home

Though you may not be gold, your home still has strong qualities that attract attention — but beware of competition if your Anchorage property only has these features:

You fixed and settled minor repairs, like chips in the wall and stains on the carpet. You have checked your roof and made sure the plumbing is in good shape.

Clutter is almost non-existent, but there are still traces of your stuff occupying the majority of space in storage areas, like the closets.

Your home is priced within an affordable range, though other houses have also done so (garnering buyers’ attention).

Bronze Medal Home

As the least favorite of the three, you still have a ways before a buyer is willing to make an offer on your home. Here’s why:

Clutter is grabbing up space, such as your children’s toys in the bedroom and personal hygiene products on the bathroom sink.

Some features are out-dated and need fixing, such as light fixtures and sink faucets. Adding new fixtures and replacing small features can increase the value of your home.

Your home isn’t priced to the market as its flaws steal from the value. With the price not attracting any attention, your home will sit on the market longer.

Strong odors are persistent throughout the home (like pet odors and cigarette smoke). Our advice: Don’t cover up the scents with candles or plug-in fragrances.

Things You Should Always do Before Selling

1. Hire an agent to help you through the home selling process. Their local knowledge of the market will provide invaluable advice to pricing your home right and getting it ready.

2. Get a home inspection, so you know if there are any issues that should be fixed before buyers find out.

3. Clean up the house. With things scattered about and personal stuff in plain view, it makes it hard for buyers to picture themselves living there.

Selling Your Home in Anchorage, Alaska

As you begin to sell your house, having the experience of a qualified real estate agent can help in numerous ways. Apart from answering common questions, the Reed Moore Group can show you different ways to sell your home for more money and in less time. We can say this with confidence, as on average, our listings sold for 2.8% more than local competitors and spent 60% less time on the market.

To get a peek at how we do this, check out what your home is worth and read our Definitive Guide to Selling Your Home in Anchorage: