The first step is to contact an experienced realtor. That realtor should be a member of the Board of Realtors and have access to the MLS system. An experienced realtor will walk you through the process from beginning to end. The realtor should advise on how to prepare the house before it goes on the market, review all selling related costs and most importantly, demonstrate a successful marketing plan to get top dollar for your home in today' s market.

The realtor should be able to provide a Comparative Market Analysis. It should be based on activity in the last 4 months. Today's market changes rapidly. Current information, not information 6 months to a year ago is what is important. The market analysis should be broad to look at every similar house and school district and that' s the big picture. Next the analysis should be of your neighborhood and that' s the small picture. This approach allows you to see all your competitors and just in your neighborhood as well.

This is the number one reason why your house won't sell with that strategy. In today's market, the inventory of homes is higher than in the past. Today's buyers are looking at 10, 20 even 30 homes before they decide to purchase. Today's buyer is looking at the most competitively priced properties. If you are priced too high the buyer won't look at your home. Price your home at market value right from the start. This will attract more showings from buyers who are looking to purchase now!

Your realtor should guide you on preparing your home for sale. Most of the time It's not recommended to do any major remodeling. A fresh coat of paint is not expensive and really can brighten & update your home. Get rid of clutter, this will make rooms and closets appear larger. Simple things like caulking around tubs, sinks and windows or repairing torn screens make big improvements at low costs. Then look at your home from across the street, how can you improve your homes curb appeal? Fresh mulch, neatly trimmed landscaping, removal of dead trees or plants can improve your curb appeal dramatically.

Yes, if you have lived in your home 10 years or less, your existing title policy can save you a few hundred dollars. As a seller you will be required to provide title insurance to your buyer. Your realtor can give your policy to the title company before the closing to save you money.

Your realtor will help you negotiate the time you have to move, after the closing, in your contract. In most cases the time given after the closing can be  only a few days or a couple of weeks. If this is important to have more time to move out, talk to your realtor. Perhaps negotiating or paying some sort of rent can allow you to have more time to move.

Coordinating the sale of your home and the purchase of your new home is usually something that can be done. Working with your realtor and through contingencies in your sales contract this can be done. If this is your goal get pre-approved through a lender when your house goes on the market. Then you'll know how much you can afford or in most cases you'll know the price range to look at to stay in a budget that is comfortable for you.

Most buyers will ask for a seller to pay for this coverage. Your realtor can review the policies and costs and determine which policy is best. Most warranties will cover you, the seller during the listing period on mechanicals. This might prevent you having to pay a costly repair when you're trying to sell your home. By offering a home warranty to your buyer you can' t guarantee a sale, but it is another tool that will help.

Commission is something that is not standard, but negotiable. Some realtors charge 7% or 6%. Some realtors may charge less. What is most important is what services are you receiving? The skills on negotiating from your realtor can save thousands. The commission offered to the buyer broker is important too. Most buyers want their own representation just like you, the homeowner. The best advice is to know what your realtor is going to do to get your house sold. Statistics show homeowners net 10% to 15% more on the sale of their home when using a realtor then trying to sell their home themselves.

All circumstances are different in this case if you must sell then you want to work with a realtor that understands the short sale process. Visit Help for Homeowners on our website)

Timing is everything. In today's market it can take a couple of months to a year. Talk to your realtor about your needs. Pricing the home at market price from the start is most important. Money is important and so is timing for you and your family. These are discussions you definitely want to have with your realtor.

Staging your home allows your home to put its best foot forward. It could be doing items as discussed in question #4. Rearranging furniture or removing furniture can definitely open up a room. Remove personal pictures. Your child can have the cutest baby pictures, but do you want potential buyers looking at your home or looking at the pictures on your wall? It' s called de-personalize the home! This allows the buyer to visualize themselves in the home as they are walking through it.

We were founded in 1992 and are a proud AAA rated company with the Better Business Bureau. Our agents bring a vast knowledge & experience about today's market. Our agents have all the special designations in the industry to guide you to your goals. We work as a team! Hire one agent and you hire the entire office dedicated to getting your house SOLD! Call us for a FREE Comparative Market Analysis and Marketing Plan for your home. You' ll soon realize Superior Homes Realty offers Superior Agents!