If you’re selling a home on a buyer’s market, the odds are not in your favor. There has to be an “all hands on deck” approach, which means instead of handing it over to your real estate agent, you have to support them. Be the perfect seller and you will find that they will work that much harder for you and sell your house. What is the point after all. (What gives me the street credibility to present this information? More than a seasoned scenario, I sold my own home in January 2009 when there was only one buyer. I’ve lived through it and I know exactly what this will be like for you Follow these guidelines and you’ll reap the same rewards: a really nice buyer, who paid a fair price and gave us good terms at closing.)

1. Imitate the photos

You dressed every room for the photographer. Buyers selected your home as one they wanted to see based on the photos. Do not disappoint them; make sure the house still looks the same. (except for seasonal decoration, such as flowers in the garden and pots outside).

2. ALWAYS be ready for showings

I know what it’s like to live in “show for sale” or “hotel ready” condition, as one of my realtor friends puts it. It’s a discipline, but it’s a lot easier than having to clean up the place while turning on all the lights, madly spraying Fabreze as shoppers walk down the driveway. Another tip here: Have a “drill” in your family: who does upstairs, basement, etc. Always turn on and spray in the same order so it becomes second nature.

3. Keep up with the seasons

Remember to remove a holiday as soon as it’s over, even if it’s just Valentine’s Day or Easter. You don’t want to look like you’ve been sitting in the market waiting for a buyer forever!

4. Create a service guide

The Buyer will need this eventually, and start putting it in the right frame of being helpful and doing business with them in the nicest way possible. Gather all appliance manuals, service contracts, names of people who know your plumbing, electrical panel, etc. Then add favorite restaurants, lower price/better value dry cleaners, wine spots, specialty foods, baked goods… just like a hotel does. It creates a warm welcome in a hotel room and suggests fun, comfort and ease of living, all of which you want your buyer to feel so they choose YOUR home.

5. Tell everyone you know to tell everyone they know – Facebook

Over 85% of buyers start their search for a new home online.

“If you want to catch a fish, go where the fish are.”

6. Tell the story on content sites

Your real estate agent will have the listing online on the various sites you create your business on. These typically include Realtor.com, Zillow, Trulia, Edgeio, Vast, and CraigsList. There they can put 10 – 15 photos and limited information. But you can tell a bigger, more complete story. Content sites like Squidoo, HubPages, Tumblr… even Facebook fan pages… allow for paragraphs, personal perspectives, links, and a much more complete story about the house and the neighborhood. Check with your real estate agent before posting anything to make sure everyone is “on the same page”! They will pick up any silent signals that you may not be aware of, in terms of tradability.

7. Know the Market

Learn about compensation, know its value and be realistic, really listen when offers come. Try not to be stubborn, insulted or personally offended. Try to enable the deal with the best interests of buyers in mind. Good karma comes back to you every time.