FrontDoor.com

Don't let the slow market get you down. Whether you're a home seller looking for offers, or a homebuyer facing stricter loan requirements, rev up your real estate potential with these helpful pointers from FrontDoor.com.

FOR SELLERS:

1. Give your house a makeover that adds value and keeps it up with the Joneses'. That doesn't mean you should run out and install Italian marble. But if hardwood floors are the norm in your neighborhood, replace the carpet.
   10 ways to increase the value of your home
   
   
2. Use the secrets of staging experts, or hire one. Staging can be as easy as a fresh coat of paint, new cabinet hardware and strategically-placed lighting. Think of it as a creative, inexpensive facelift for your home.
   How to dress your house for sale success
   
   
3. Find out what's wrong with the house and get it fixed. Don't wait until that serious buyer finds faulty wiring or a termite problem and then pulls the plug on the deal. Be proactive. Get an inspection before hitting the market.
   Finding the right home inspector
   
   
4. Come up with a comprehensive home-selling strategy. Don't put an ad on Craigslist, stick a sign in the ground and call it a day. Whether you're going FSBO or using an agent, selling your home in a buyer's market requires a well thought-out plan with accurate pricing, targeted improvements and focused marketing and exposure.
   How to sell your house in a buyer's market
   
   
5. Hire an aggressive, well-connected real estate agent. Find an experienced agent with a proven track record and knows how to pound the pavement. In this market, name recognition is important, so find the go-to person for buyers and their agents in your community.
   Shopping for a Realtor
   
   
6. Help a buyer buy it. Offer incentives that put money in the buyer's pocket, such as buying down the interest rate, absorbing more of the closing costs or offering seller financing.
   Creative financing options to sell your home
   
   
7. Consider renting or offering a lease option. Minimize the impact of two mortgages by renting your house out until you find a buyer. Or offer a lease option to a motivated buyer who doesn't have enough cash to buy a home outright.
   Is rent to own right for you?
   
   
8. Make the house move-in ready. Throw in the furniture, flat-screen TV, washer/dryer, appliances, backyard jacuzzi AND the kitchen sink. The less money a buyer will have to shell out to furnish the house, the higher the perceived value.
   The pros and cons of non-price terms
   
   FOR BUYERS:
   
   
9. Use calculators and tools to evaluate your potential purchase. Be careful not to get caught up in the hype of a buyer's market. Make calculated decisions with FrontDoor.com's "Return on Investment" tool, for instance, which helps you determine your potential IRR (internal rate of return) on a property.
   Determine your potential return on investment
   
   
10. Evaluate and boost your financial profile. If you're having trouble finding favorable terms or interest rates on a mortgage, make yourself more appealing to lenders by boosting your credit score.
    Give your credit a not-so-extreme makeover

GO TO: FrontDoor's Top 10

More on FrontDoor:

• Search Homes for Sale
• My First Place Home Buying Guide
• Foreclosure Buying Guide
• Home Seller's Guide
• Home Finance Guide
• Tools and Calculators