I work with a lot of real estate investors.  Each time I complete a job and the investor sells the house, I notice a few things.  Here is what investors do to sell their houses like hot cakes, even in a “down” market:

• Beautify your home’s exterior and yard. Your place has to look a lot better than distressed properties, say experts quoted in Money. Have the house washed, paint the door, replace the knocker and hire a gardener to give your yard some class.

• Be friendly to first-time buyers. With the help of tax credits, first timers bought about half of all houses sold this year. The average age of these buyers is 30. Spread the word about your open house on Facebook and Twitter.

• Make a good presence online. Prospective buyers may be faced with thousands of choices. They often search on keywords, so describe your amenities with words like “deck,” “pool,” “granite countertops,” and “baths.”

• Take pictures of the inside with a wide-angle lens say experts at real estate site Trulia.com. Such pictures make the room look bigger.

• Set the price online at the lowest figure in your price range.  With the help of your real estate agent, check to see what comparable homes in your neighborhood have sold for. You will probably have to ask 10 percent to 15 percent less to get buyers to notice your listing.

The speedy deal is a big benefit for many buyers. Make sure your real estate agent lets buyers know you can close a deal in a few weeks. Bargain by paying part of the closing costs. Offer new appliances, or do whatever you can to make your deal seem like a bargain.