Know why you're selling your home.

As a prospective home buyer, it’s important to clearly understand your reasons for purchasing, as your motivation will guide many aspects of the process. It can influence the type of home you choose, how quickly you're prepared to move forward, and how flexible you may be during negotiations.

Do your homework before setting a price.

Settling on an offering price shouldn't be done lightly. Once you've set your price, you've told buyers the absolute maximum they have to pay for your home. The goals for the seller is to get a selling price as close to the offering price as possible. If you start out by pricing too high, you might not be taken seriously by prospective buyers and their agents. A price too low can result in selling for much less than you hoped for.

Know when to get an appraisal.

Before listing your home, your real estate agent will provide a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) — a professional estimate of your home’s value based on recent sales, current market conditions, and similar properties in your area. This helps determine a competitive and realistic listing price.

In some cases, a professional appraisal can also be a helpful tool in marketing your home. For example, if your home has already been appraised for VA or FHA financing, it can signal to buyers that the property meets certain loan qualifications. However, keep in mind that appraisals come with a cost, are valid only for a limited time, and may not always reflect the price you hope to achieve.

While a CMA is designed to help you price your home for the market, an appraisal is a formal valuation often required by lenders. Both serve different purposes — and together, they can help you understand your home’s position in the market.

Your tax assessment means almost nothing.

Some people look to tax assessments to assign a value. The problem here is that assessments are based on a number of criteria unrelated to property values, so they often don't necessarily reflect the true value of your home. Have you ever heard of two identical homes in the same neighborhood with dramatically different assessed values because one was purchased more recently than the other? Well, it happens quite often.

Maximize your home's sales potential.

The key takeaway is that appearance matters — a lot. While you can’t change a home’s location or layout, you can improve how it looks and feels, and that can make a big difference. A home's presentation has a strong emotional impact on buyers, often more than the price itself. Buyers respond to what they see, hear, feel, and even smell when touring a home — so first impressions truly count.

Rely on other people's judgement as well as your own.

The key to effective marketing is knowing your product's good and bad points. In the case of your home, accentuating the good can mean a faster sale for more money; failing to deal with the bad can mean months on the market and a lower than desired sales price.

The biggest mistake you can make at this point is to rely solely on your own judgment. Remember this is your home, a place of fond memories. There are bound to be emotional issues that can impair your ability to make an honest assessment of your home's strengths and weaknesses.

In evaluating what improvements you can make, don't be shy about asking others for their opinions. But make sure you're getting an honest answer; some may try to spare your feelings, just what you don't need. Your agent shouldn't be shy in discussing what should be done to make a home more marketable.

Clean like you've never cleaned before.

Before putting your home on the market, take the time to declutter, clean, and create a space that feels open and inviting. Remove unnecessary furniture, tidy up each room, and aim for a fresh, well-maintained look throughout. Remember, you're not just competing with other resale homes — you're also up against brand-new properties. Your home is often at its highest perceived value the moment it hits the market, so presenting it at its best from day one is essential.

Fix everything no matter how insignificant it may appear.

The step that squeaks, the light switch that doesn't work, the hairline crack in the bathroom mirror-they may be annoyances to you, but they can also be deal killers. The problem is that you never know what will turn a buyer off. And even something minor that's gone unattended can suggest that perhaps there are bigger, less visible problems present as well.

Remove all traces of you from your home.

When touring other people's homes, you may have experienced a sense of discomfort. This can be a result of too many personal items or décor that made you feel like an intruder. You want to avoid potential buyers feeling this way when they visit your home. To make buyers feel comfortable and allow them to imagine themselves living there, aim for a neutral, uncluttered environment. Remove anything that could distract from the home's potential. While a few well-chosen knickknacks or family photos can add warmth, too many can be overwhelming. Stick to neutral tones for paint and carpet, such as soft whites or beiges, to create a calm, inviting atmosphere.

The little touches can make a difference.

While personal items can detract, other small touches can help make your house a home to buyers. A well placed vase of flowers, accent pieces of sculpture, potpourri in the bathroom-all can enhance the attractiveness of your home in a subtle, soft-spoken way. Try perusing any of the home magazines for tips.

Don't let a smell be your downfall.

Odd smells kill deals quickly. All traces of food, pet and smoking odors must be eliminated. Even when you're gone, don't encourage prospective buyers to imagine things. If they know that you're a smoker or that you have a dog, they'll start smelling odors and seeing stains that may not even exist. Be safe-don't leave any clues.

The more prospects, the better.

Successful marketing starts with a clear understanding of your home’s strengths and weaknesses. Highlighting its best features can lead to a quicker sale and a better price. On the other hand, ignoring problem areas can result in a longer time on the market and lower offers.

One of the biggest mistakes sellers make is relying only on their own judgment. Because your home holds personal memories, it’s natural to view it with emotion — which can make it difficult to assess objectively. That’s why honest feedback is essential. Don’t hesitate to ask for input from others, but make sure they’re giving you truthful, constructive advice — not just trying to spare your feelings.

Your real estate agent should also provide a candid evaluation and suggest any improvements that could help make your home more marketable.

Don't take a low offer personally.

It’s not uncommon for an initial offer to come in lower than what you and the buyer expect the buyer will ultimately pay. Instead of reacting with frustration or feeling insulted, take a step back and evaluate the offer objectively. Ensure the offer includes key details such as the proposed price, earnest money, closing date, and any special requests. This gives you a clear starting point for negotiation, allowing you to move forward with a constructive discussion.

Make sure the contract is complete.

Make sure that all terms, costs and responsibilities are spelled out in the contract of sale. A contract should include the date it was made, the names of the parties involved in the transaction, the address of the property being sold, the purchase price, where deposit monies will be held, the date for loan approval, any contingencies that remain to be settled, and whether there is any personal property included (or not) in the sale, among other things.