A little known tactic to sell your home quicker and for a higher price is to offer a higher commission for the sale of your home. You may be asking yourself how paying more can actually net you more- but it's really a rather simple concept.

By raising the commission, you could consider that a 1% loss to you- but that same 1% is a 14% gain to any agent that sells your home. You have to remember that many other agents may be bringing buyers to consider your home. This is how you can appeal to those agents. Put yourself in their shoes just for a moment and pretend that you have selected three homes that could potentially work for your buyer. One is offering an average commission for your area, another is offering 1% less in commission - which to you, now translates into a 14% loss of pay. But the third home is offering a great incentive- a 1% bonus on the commission- a 14% raise.

What would you do for a 14% hike in your paycheck? The more offers you receive, the higher price you get for your home- and the quicker it sells. Keep in mind also that costs you incur in selling your home are tax deductible- this includes the marketing fee. Be sure to see your accountant for advice on this.

Allowances for buyers
 Another tactic to make your home more appealing is to offer allowances for the buyers. This could range from appliances to clever financing - but it will be up to you to be creative and know what is within your boundaries. Below are some suggestions for allowances.

Kitchen Remodel Allowance
 Consider offering an allowance for remodeling the kitchen- in which case you would leave professional designs of what your kitchen could look like. Not only are you offering a new kitchen, you're allowing the new buyer to mentally move into your property and customize their own kitchen. This is the biggest appeal of building your own home- custom designing it to your preferences. You'll be surprised by the response.

New Carpet Allowance
 One incentive that is commonly used is the new carpet allowance. By offering to credit the new buyers with the price of a new carpet, you do several things: You save yourself the hassle of having carpet-layers in, you avoid the possibility of the new carpet being stained during showings or even by your family, and you allow the buyers to add a hint of customization to their new home by simply selecting their own carpet. Many times you will find that the buyers choose to keep the carpet and use the allowance for furniture or odds and ends. Either way- you've enticed them to choose your home over the others competing with yours

Property Tax Allowance
 Consider paying your buyer's first year of property taxes, homeowner's insurance or even making their first 3 mortgage payments. Buyers get excited when they get freebies or bonuses. Imagine buying a house and not having to make a payment for the next four months- or knowing that your first year's property taxes are paid for. This incentive may put your home well above the competition.

New Appliance Allowance
 Try offering to buy new appliances for the buyers. The new computerized washer and dryer sets, an instant water heater that never runs out of hot water, or a talking refrigerator. The key here is to have the brochures out during showings and included in all advertising. It is common to have someone pass up another home simply because you offered something they wanted- but would never actually buy it for themselves. All you are looking for is an edge.