| 1. |
Plan ahead. Getting a home ready to sell usually takes time.
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| 2. |
Select a listing agent who specializes in your area. Ideally, your agent should be experienced, trustworthy and someone with whom you have good rapport.
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| 3. |
List your home at a price that is based on current market value. Ask your agent for information about similar homes that have recently sold in your neighborhood.
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| 4. |
In most cases, it's wise to list with an agent for a period of 90 days. If you're pleased with your agent's efforts on your behalf, you can extend the listing if necessary. More expensive listings may require a longer marketing period.
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| 5. |
Buyers pay a premium for homes that are in good condition. In most cases, you should clean, declutter and make repairs to your home before you put it on the market. Benefits of Staging (.pdf)
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| 6. |
First impressions are lasting. Don't expose your home to the market until you have completed all your fix-up-for sale projects.
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| 7. |
Have your home inspected before you put it on the market. This is especially important if you are planning to sell your home in its "as is" condition.
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| 8. |
During the marketing period, ask your agent to give you feedback about showings of your home and about any changes in current market conditions.
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| 9. |
Plan to disappear during buyer showings of your home, and during broker and public open houses.
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| 10. |
Set up a showing procedure that makes it easy for agents to show your home. Agents should, however, call before they show your home.
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| 11. |
If the feedback you get from buyers who preview your home is that the price is too high for the market, reduce the price sooner rather than later.
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| 12. |
Plan on countering any offer you receive from qualified buyers, even if the price is unacceptable. It's natural for buyers to want to pay the lowest possible price, so don't be offended by a low offer. Buyers often don't know how high they'll be willing to go. You'll never know unless you counter.
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