Taking the Right Steps to Sell Your Home

Even though making the decision to sell your home isn't easy, the real work - actually selling it - has just begun. Fortunately, expert help is available from your local real estate agent.

You need to become familiar with your competition and establish a selling price that's consistent with comparable homes in your area. You can do online research and visit open houses yourself, but at this stage, consider hiring an experienced agent.

Your agent can provide you with a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) which details what other homes like yours have sold for. When you visit open houses, notice features that make positive or negative impressions on you. Now ask your agent to suggest ideas to ensure your home makes a positive impression, and make suggested repairs and/or consider staging. At this point, you and your agent will come up with a realistic selling price.

The most critical task of any agent is negotiating the sale of your home. For this, you need one who has been in the business for a while. There is a difference. By selecting an experienced agent, you'll be helping ensure a satisfactory outcome.

Through the negotiating process, your agent will work hard to help you and the buyer come to an agreement that you both can live with. Your agent should always show respect for the other party and set a positive tone for the negotiation.

Remember, everything is negotiable. If the buyer won't increase the offer to your price, you can negotiate other things such as upgrades or repairs, or inclusions and services such as appraisals or home inspections. You can also offer to sell the house as is, without doing any repairs, at a lower price.

Be involved. The more both parties are involved in the process, the more likely you are to come to a good agreement - one which is wise and efficient and provides a good outcome for both parties.