When you are selling a home, you are a salesman and will need to think like a salesman. Look at your home objectively and think about what a buyer is looking for. Think about the price. Will a buyer choose your home over other similarly priced homes in your neighborhood? The more you can put your emotions aside, the clearer you’ll be able to see the true value of your home.

Finding the the right listing price is the most important part of listing a home for sale. List it too high and it will just sit on the market and require numerous price drops. List it too low and you may miss out on thousands of dollars.

Many homeowners aren’t aware that our state and country have very clear laws concerning the sale of residential property. Be sure to know what those laws are. You may want to consider hiring a Real Estate Attorney so that you don’t inadvertently put your assets at risk from litigation.

Here are some helpful links:

Ohio Fair Housing Laws

Ohio Sales and Contract Law

Ohio Real Estate Lawyers

Remember, real estate agents spend their money marketing homes to sell in order to earn your commission. This means, if you want to compete for buyers searching for homes, you’ll need to market your home effectively, as well. Here are some suggestions:

1. Professional staging and photography

2. Social media ads and campaigns

3. Open House - I can do that for you!

4. Colorful Flyers - I can do that for you, too!

5. Offer a competitive Buyer’s Agent commission - Most buyers work with agents and those agents expect to be paid for their work

Recent studies show that almost 90% of all buyers use a licensed real estate agent to negotiate on their behalf. This means that, more than likely, you will be negotiating with a real estate professional. Real Estate agents are bound by the Code of Ethics and by State Law to only represent the best interests of their client, unless they are a neutral, dual agent. The agent is not working for you, so you will need to be prepared to represent your own best interests. Thoroughly read all purchase agreements and accompanying paperwork. Verify proof of funds or pre-approval letters before accepting any offer.

Now that you’ve negotiated the deal and the paperwork is signed, you’ll need to get the deal to closing. Lots of things can happen during this time that may break the deal, such as:

1. Inspections

2. Appraisal

3. Financing

4. Final Walk-Through

5. Breach of Contract

We call this the “Contract-to-Close” process. Keeping track of paperwork and due dates during this time period is crucial. Many agents hire a transaction coordinator due to the complexity of getting the deal to closing.