When is the Best Time to Sell

The best to sell can vary by region and time.

If you are in a "sellers market" and situated in a good location, you will have no problem selling your home at or above the market price.

If you are in a "buyers market", it might take some creative presentation to get interested parties to make an offer.

There are different selling strategies depending on your market and timing.

View timing issues when selling a home:
timing your home sale

View market and economic issues:
market and economic timing of your home sale

Select the Method for Selling Your Home

You need to decide how you want to sell your home. Your selling options include:

1. sell your home using the services of an agent
2. sell your home by yourself (i.e., FSBO)
3. combination strategy: FSBO and buying agent
   
   view pros and cons on which method

Issues to consider:

about using an agent

if you select agent services:
what service agents provide

need to find an agent?
click here

about going FSBO

if you select FSBO:
get information about going FSBO

get FSBO services and supplies:
view FSBO services

listing your home for sale:
tap into the MLS and others to list your home

Get the Market Value of Your Home

This will give you a good idea of your market value and help formulate your sales strategy.

There are three ways to get a market assessment:

1. Get an Electronic Appraisal:
   
   What's the value of your home?
   Order your personal
   home valuation report
   
   property reports:
   complete property valuation
   recent sales report
   comparable sales
   subject property report
   
   view sample reports: enter address-zip
   
   
   
2. Get a QUICK review of comparable home sales in your area:
   
   FREE review of comparable home sales in your area:
   
   

   Enter Your Address to Get Started

   Street Address: City:  State: Zip Code: Please select Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Other   All fields required

   
   
   
3. Use an On-Site Home Appraisal:
   This will be your most expensive route; averaging in price from $200 - $300 or more, depending on your area and type of appraisal.
   
   Use this option when you need to substantiate your asking price and home value:
   
   

   Find an Appraiser:
   Get matched with the right pre-screened appraisal service in your area:

   find an APPRAISER Use this quick search to find customer-rated home appraisers from your area. Get reviews.

Get Your Home Ready for the Sale

Be ready to make very good first impressions.

Before listing your house, take some time to spruce up the place to maximize the value and timing of your home sale.

We are talking about needed repairs, cleaning up, perhaps painting a room, landscaping the yard, etc.

What's needed to get your home ready:
view our "getting-the-home-ready" tips

Make very good "first impressions":
view our "first impressions" home selling guide

Showing Your Home

Your showing will be the most stressful time in your home selling experience.

We are talking about:

1. open houses
2. scheduled showings
3. individual showings
4. online showings
5. other

If you are working with an agent, your agent will arrange and manage your home showings.

If you are working FSBO, you will need to arrange and manage many of these tasks.

We have information on how to manage home showings

Negotiate the Sale of Your Home

Your goal is to maximize your asking price. Understand how the offering process works:

1. all about the legal stuff
2. what legal disclosures forms are needed
3. all about the real estate contract
4. what you should know before accepting the offer
5. negotiating the contract
   
   go to: Home Selling Contract Negotiations

Closing and Settlement

The final step is closing the offer and settling the title transfer and ownership to the home buyer.

Notes on Home Closing and Settlement:
go to: Closing and Settlement

There will be seller closing costs:
go to: Review Closing Costs

What's Next After Your Home is Sold

Now that your home is sold, what's next?

1. Are you MOVING to a new area?
   view Our Comprehensive Relocation Center
   
   
2. Are you BUYING a new home?
   view Our Home Buying Guide
   
   
3. Are you BUILDING a new home?
   view Our Home Building Center

And don't forget, we have a nationwide network of lenders who can help you with your next home purchase:

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