Million of existing homes are sold each year, and while each transaction is different every owner wants the same thing — the best possible deal with the least amount of hassle and aggravation.

Unfortunately, home selling has become a more complex business than it used to be. New seller disclosure statements, longer and more mysterious form agreements, and a range of environmental concerns have all emerged in the past decade.

Below, we have organized the selling process into 7 steps. Please click each link below to be taken to an detail page for each step:

• Abandon your personal point of view

• Get a couple of CMAs (comparative market analysis)

• Do your own market research

• Calculate the price per square foot for similar homes in your neighborhood

• Consider market conditions

• Sweeten the transaction terms. The more appealing you can make it, the more eager buyers will be.

• Preparation: Before being placed on the market, homes must be in “show” condition. REALTORS® can explain what repairs and upgrades are required for individual homes which are most likely to produce the best results.

• Pricing: Brokers do more than price homes for sale, they also construct sale terms designed to speed the selling process. It may be, for example, that a home priced at $150,000 with a 2 percent seller credit to the buyer at closing will be far more attractive to purchasers than a home priced at $147,000. Why? That 2 percent credit is worth $3,000 to the purchaser at closing — the time when buyers are most likely strapped for cash.

• Marketing: REALTORS® will execute strategies and programs to get the home sold. Typically this includes placement on the local MLS and Realtor.com as well as related marketing, advertising and networking.

• Negotiation: REALTORS® assist owners in the bargaining process, offering advice and counsel as offers are received and by working closely with legal counsel, tax specialists and inspectors as required.

• Closing: Once a contract for the purchase of a home has been accepted, a series of inspections and checks are typically required to satisfy buyers and lenders. REALTORS® can help owners complete the transaction process by assisting with the many requirements found in a typical sale agreement.

**A Realtor is a member of the National Association of Realtors. They proudly uphold the NAR code of ethics and display a higher knowledge of the processes of buying and selling real estate. Make sure that your real estate agent is a Realtor.

Source: Realtor.com