Get Expert-ized at Selling Your House

Selling your home, whether it is the first time or the 10th time, can be an arduous endeavor. However, if you have been through it nine times already, you may have a handle on some components. Still, there are a number of steps to go through before you can move on to the next phase of your life. If you pay attention to the experts, your home may sell much faster than you had predicted, and you will be pleased with the price you received.

Here are some areas of a home sales transaction where you may want to get yourself expert-ized:

1. Choose whether you want to sell your house using an agent or do it on your own (much more work)

2. Get your home appraised before you put it on the market. This will give you an idea about how much you can reasonably sell it for.

3. Try to avoid having two mortgages (unless you can afford it) by putting your house on the market long before you buy the next one.

4. If you find yourself in the situation of possibly having two mortgages (one that you don't want any more) talk to your lender about bridge financing to get you through the sale transition. You may also want to see if you qualify for a home equity loan.

5. Assuming you have chosen to go with a real estate agent, let them know exactly what price you want to get, and if you are negotiable.

6. Understand what the broker/agent contract you are signing means, and how long it is valid for. Will you be locked in for a long time, even if your home does not sell? If you have your own lawyer, have him/her go over the contract to make sure you are protected against an obscure clause.

7. Ask if your agent will lower the commission. If not, shop around to see which real estate agent has the lowest fees.

8. Find out if your agent will put your home on the MLS listings to create more interest.

9. Your agent is legally required to tell you about all offers that are put forth. Be clear of this point when you are initially consulting an agent.

10. De-clutter your home. This has been preached time and time again, but if your home is cluttered, it gives the appearance (justified or not) that the home is not well cared for and will need a lot of work upon purchasing. If you are really motivated to sell your home, you may want to hire a home stager.

11. Bump up your home's curb appeal. Get rid of toys or tools around the yard. Trim bushes and add some colorful plants to the scene, even if it is in pots that can be later removed when you move.