1. Timing. Holidays and graduations are examples of times to avoid.  The mid summer market can be slow when families are vacationing.  The spring market is often a good time to sell.
2. Inventory. Consider the competition in the area and in your neighborhood.  Are other homes for sale?  Are others for sale on your street?  If so, it may be best to wait, but it can also be a good time sell. I can explain.
3. Home Prep.  Make sure the home and grounds are looking their best.  Most buyers will visit the home at the beginning of a listing period.  You don’t get a second chance at a first impression.
4. Professional Photos. If an agent is not good at taking photos, insist on a professional. Creating buyer traffic is often influenced by the photos.
5. Your Agent. Does the agent respond quickly?  Buyers and their agents can be impatient when needing information.  Is the agent personable and respected by other agents? Getting along is part of it, but being a pushover can result in money being left on the table.

Getting Your Price

1. Price it to Sell Soon.  If the home sells early in the listing period, the selling price is often higher.  If it sits for a while, days on market are public knowledge and often lead to lower offers.
2. Committed Buyer & Agent.  It is best if your agent knows when an offer is solid, or how to shorten or remove contingencies.  The last thing you want is a sale to fall through, forcing the home to go back on the market when the “new listing buzz” is gone.  A good insurance policy is an agent who stays in touch with interested parties.
3. Zillow, Redfin & Others.  It is prudent to check the estimated value of your property on home valuation sites.  They are not always accurate, but buyers will look at them.  Edits can be made to these sites in some cases.

Closing Escrow

1. Lot’s of Players.  There are a number of parties to each real estate transaction.  The buyers, the sellers, the buyer’s agent, the seller’s agent, inspectors, a title company, a loan company, and sometimes a family member.  Any one of these parties can run things off course.  For lack of a better explanation, your agent must be the glue keeping the sale together if things start to come apart. An agent with experience and vision can often reduce the odds of problems.
2. Communication. Having a responsive agent who communicates well will often keep you, as the home seller, informed and at ease.  Good communication skills also reduce the risk of unwanted surprises for all parties involved.
3. Contracts.  An agent’s experience with real estate contracts, offer negotiations and repair requests can relieve pressure from these potentially stressful situations.  It can also be financially rewarding in your favor.
4. Service People.  Ask your agent if they have reputable and reasonably priced service people.  This can save time and money when it comes to selling your home.