Can I sell my house myself?

Many people believe they can save a considerable amount of money by selling on their own. The best reason for working with a real estate broker is the enormous amount of information they have at their disposal - information that can help make your house sell faster and easier. Professionals know about market trends, houses in your neighborhood, and the people most likely to buy there. They also know how to reach the largest number of people who may be interested in your house and are trained in areas like screening potential buyers and negotiating with them. Finally, they're always 'on call,' and willing to do the things most of us hate: working on the weekends, answering the phone at all hours and always being polite about it.

How long should it take to sell?

Average listing times vary from 30 to 180 days, according to market conditions in a particular region, town or even neighborhood; and of course, price, terms, condition, location and exposure play an even greater role.

How do I price my house?

In a word, realistically. With a professional market evaluation from a licensed agent you might be pleasantly surprised. Pricing is a very critical process, overpricing can have a huge impact on your property. Many articles have been written to educate Sellers on the huge disadvantage of overpricing their property.

What is ”fair market value” and how do I determine mine?

The market analysis will give you a realistic figure based on the most salient points of the local real estate market. It should provide information about recent sales of similar houses, including how much they sold for and how long it took. The broker's price opinion is very helpful in determining the right asking price.

How do I reach the right potential buyers?

There was a time when selling a house was simple. Your real estate agent would put a sign the front yard, an ad in the paper and wait. Of course, agents still do those things - but that's far from all they do. Today, people are moving further and more frequently than they used to; it's not unusual for upwardly mobile executives to relocate across the country more than once a year. The result is that the pool of potential buyers for your house is much larger and spread far wider than ever before, and the competition to reach them is fierce.