Tips on Selling Your Home

How do you find success in home selling? The key is to start early, and plan carefully. Find the proper listings, advertise your home in the correct manner, and work smart. Here are quick steps to home selling success:

Find the Right Listing Agent: The real estate agent commissions can add up quickly, and you want to choose an experienced professional who can help sell your home in a timely manner. Make sure that they list your home in the proper category, according to your unique selling conditions. For instance, if you have recently moved, set your listing in the Real Estate Trades category. This will ensure that potential buyers are aware of your home's condition and qualities.

Set the Correct Listing Price: You have to set a fair price for your home, which will be used to determine your Real Estate Agent Commission (RES). Some states allow you to set your own prices, while others require a certain minimum amount as a starting point for home selling prices. Be sure to ask your real estate agent what your starting point should be, so that you don't exceed it when you set your asking price. Set your prices to reflect current conditions, including any buyers and sellers' incentives. Your home selling expenses will also be affected by staging costs, which can run in the thousands.

Get a Good Realtor: Getting a good real estate agent will ensure that you have professional support throughout the selling process. You want someone who will be there for you during the buyer's stage, as well as during the showing and finalizing of your sale. An experienced agent can help you negotiate a fair deal with buyers, so you don't run into problems down the line with overpriced properties.

Don't Use a Multiple Listing Service: Most buyers these days prefer to use multiple listing services, or MLS. You can save money by not using one of these services, but you'll lose the flexibility and control over the sale of your home. Each listing service charges its members' fees, which means you could be charged extra by your listing agent. If at all possible, only list to MLS and eliminate any other listing services.

No Selling Conduct: Most sellers shy away from selling their homes in this manner because it makes them vulnerable to lawsuits regarding misrepresentation of the property. When a buyer purchases a home, they are required to sign a Sales Contract. The Contract contains all of the necessary information about the property, including why the buyer is purchasing the house, the seller's address, sales price and any additional terms. A non-binding agreement, many times, doesn't protect you as a seller from liability, so you should consider engaging the services of a real estate agent who is not associated with any listing service. In addition, you can save money by hiring a qualified real estate agent to conduct the transaction for you.

Set a Prioritize and Realtor's Price: Setting a price is something you must do prior to listing your home. There are several factors that go into setting the price for your home, such as location, condition, demand and competition. A buyer may not be interested in buying a home at a price far below market value. A real estate agent will be able to help you find a buyer, reduce the asking price and ensure a successful selling experience.

Have the Title Company Reject Your Offer: Many times when selling your home, the last price that you negotiated with your real estate agent may be too high, especially when there are competing offers from other potential buyers. The title company typically receives three offers before rejecting a listing. Before listing, ask your title company to review your offer, so you can have the opportunity to counter-offer. Rejecting an offer only gives the other potential buyers time to match your price.