You are selling your home for the first time, or maybe you have done it before. But I bet there are some things you are concerned about? Right?

See if the following address some, if not all, of your fears and how to conquer them.

Fear that your house won't sell - this probably crosses everyone's mind at some point, even if you know it is a gorgeous home, priced well, and the market is booming. In a slower market this has to be one of your biggest concerns. Armed with the correct market information from a competent REALTOR and pricing your home right, plus having it in tip top condition, will help alleviate this fear AND get your home sold for the best possible price.

Fear that your home does not show well - if you feel this way you likely have a problem. Most sellers tend to think things are fine, even when they are not. Have your REALTOR give you a blunt, honest analysis of what needs to be done to fix your home up and have it show well. And price it accordingly. Better yet, use a Home Staging Professional to put your "house" on stage and in the best light (check out the many stagers here on AR - you can even do a search to find one you can use, or at least use some of their ideas). Staging will help de-clutter and de-personalize your home, and "stage it" in a way that will enable buyers to envision themselves living there, instead of you. It's all about marketing a product - your house!

Fear of unknown defects - while you may not worry much about these normally, once you go to sell these often becomes a huge concern, especially if you have lived there for many years and/or have neglected taking care of things you know you should have. A great idea is to hire a home inspector to review your property so you can learn about any problems that you should fix. This may go a long way toward eliminating issues with a buyer, who most likely will hire their own inspector.

Fear you won't get the money you need out of the sale - it's probably pointless to worry about this. "You can't get blood out of a turnip", as they say. Likewise, you can't get more money for your home than the market will bear - no matter how badly you want or need it. Ask all the sellers whose homes have been sitting on the market 6 or 9 months, or longer. Sure, everyone wants to get their asking price, but if it ain't realistic, you ain't gonna get it. And refusing an offer that is close but not quite what you want in hopes of getting a better offer is probably foolish. Each day your home sits there it is costing you money. The next offer may be lower, plus you lost money daily while the home sat there. A competent and knowledgeable REALTOR can give you the information you need on pricing - don't be greedy. And don't listen to friends and neighbors who tell you that "you can get more money than that for your home." Who will suffer if it doesn't sell - not your friends and neighbors, that's for sure.

Fear of the unknown: the process itself - if this is your first sale, make sure you spend time with your REALTOR and get a full education on the sales process and what you can expect in your market. Ask lots of questions, no matter how stupid you might feel. Education and knowledge are your friends, plus you will feel less anxious about the unknown. Make sure you agent is staying in touch with you to answer questions, provide feedback, and keep you informed of the process as it unfolds.

Fear of Negative Buyer Feedback - many sellers want feedback on their homes, yet are fearful of what buyers will, and do, say. Keep in mind that not every buyer is going to like your home, for a host of reasons. In a buyer's market you will also tend to find buyers using all sorts of excuses to not purchase a home, or criticizing minor things that are easily changed (e.g., paint colors). This is normal, so if you hear these things, don't let it disturb you. You should, however, listen to more serious issues that are raised that involve things you can change or repair (e.g., clutter, odors, stains, messy unattractive yard, etc.).

Feeling better? Less concerned? I hope so. Clearly selling a home is a stressful undertaking, but if you follow these suggestions, work closely with your REALTOR, price your home appropriately, and make sure it shows beautifully, you will be in the best position to sell quickly. Good luck!