But if you're planning to sell soon despite the market conditions, how can you help your home stand out from the crowd?
Upgrades and renovations can make all the difference to a potential buyer who has many homes to choose from, experts say. With the recession keeping many people from spending on home improvements, now might be the perfect time to find a great deal.
"A lot of the big remodeling jobs have gone away because people are not sure about the economy, so they're just waiting," says David Lupberger, home improvement expert at ServiceMagic.com, a company that connects homeowners with home service professionals. As a result, "a lot of good contractors are available."
Contractors are ready and willing to do the job, and many can be hired at a discount right now, Lupberger says. "It's a matter of supply and demand. These guys have been used to doing one or two $300,000 projects. Those projects aren't around, so now they're doing the $25,000 projects, the $50,000 projects, and pricing them very competitively."
While deals will probably be best in areas of the country hit hard by the real estate downturn and a worsening economy, it doesn't hurt to get quotes from several contractors no matter where you live, Lupberger says. Also, be open to different types of offers. For example, one contractor could charge $5,000 less for one particular job, while another might tack on an extra project for free if you spend a certain amount of money with his company.
