The motives behind selling our homes vary. It is often an indication of something exciting on the horizon, and unfortunately it is sometimes a result of hitting a crossroads in life. Regardless of the reason for your move, you want it handled with great care, skill and understanding. Outlined below are some of the steps of the sale to get you thinking about what it entails and to in turn assist you in facilitating the process.

For Consideration

• Are you buying another home? Do you need to sell your home before buying another?
• Discuss tax breaks associated with the timing of your sale with your accountant.
• Confer with your agent about the optimal week to list your home given market trends.
• Familiarize yourself current trends in your neighborhood. Your agent should provide you with recent comparable sales in your market.
• Consider a pre-emptive home inspection and pest report.

Preparing Your Home

• Know what you can and cannot change about your house. This allows you to concentrate on those items that bring the highest rewards.
• Talk to your agent about options associated with presenting your home. Cleaning out the clutter, painting, landscaping, staging... Many of these simple projects can result in a top dollar return as your house is more desirable to more prospective buyers.
• Prepare a list of all improvements completed since owning your home.

Market Ready

• Marketing is not only desirably conveying the product, your home, but it is also reaching true potential buyers. Your agent should outline their marketing plan with you.
• Holding your house open is your agent's responsibility. Open homes draw upwards of a hundred soon-to-be buyers through your home. The broker's open brings the agents in who in turn sell their clients on your home.

Negotiate & Close

• Evaluate offers. Your agent will walk you through the details of each contract and help you to weigh the strengths and weaknesses of each offer.
• Removing contingencies can require a firm but gentle hand. Your agent will guide you through the process and look out for your best interests.
• The timeline to close approaches quickly. Don't forget to prepare for movers.
• Stay informed and know your timeline. Your agent should be on top of all the details and provide you with frequent updates.
• Closing and settlement.