Ellen Goold, REALTOR®

The goal is to make your home as appealing as possible to the most potential buyers, before photos of your home are taken. Staging your home can include anything from redecorating to rearranging furniture, cleaning or other aesthetic strategies to present the home in the best possible light. You can do it yourself, have your real estate agent guide you, or hire a staging company.

In most cases, the buyer pays for the home inspection.

If someone is selling a home that needs repairs - yet chooses not to fix them - they may choose to list a property as-is. Disclosures and inspections are typical steps in the process. In an as-is sale, a buyer is willingly purchasing the home in its current state with full knowledge of its condition.

When selling a property, it is incumbent upon the seller to disclose any details about the home that might negatively affect its value.

Factors such as the time of year and market conditions play a big role in how quickly a property sells. How you price, market and stage your home are also very important variables that will affect how long a home remains on the market.

Any fixture that is ‘attached’ or built into the house typically remains. For example, if your house has built-in bookshelves, they typically stay with the house. The same is true of kitchen or bathroom fixtures, and fireplaces. Exceptions and details can be discussed during the negotiation process.

There are many factors that affect the housing market, but understanding what to expect - and being prepared beforehand - can make buying and selling a property at the same time possible.

A professional appraiser will inspect a property and compare it to other similar homes in the area. From there, a fair market value is determined. Unless you plan on paying all cash for a property, you will likely need a home appraisal.

A real estate agent is paid as part of the closing costs, which comes out of the sale proceeds at the end of the process.

Your first step is to hire a real estate agent you trust. Together, you will set an asking price, prepare your home for listing, list and market your property, negotiate an offer, and close on the sale.

Sharing particular information when connecting with a real estate agent can help give you an idea of your home’s value in today’s market. The in-person expertise of a real estate agent will give you a more accurate opinion of your home’s value.