Comparable Prices -

The first step in determining your purchase price should be to look at the recent sales of similar homes in the surrounding neighborhood. These are referred to as "comparable sales." Comparable sales are recent sales of homes that closely compare to the one you are interested in purchasing. (similar square footage, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, garage size, lot size, etc..). If the home you are interested in is a tract of home, you will most likely find some exact model matches to compare against one another.

There are generally 2 main sources of information on comparable sales (all of which are easily accessible to a real estate agent) but can be more difficult for the general public to access - and in some cases nearly impossible. Two of the most obvious information sources are the Public Record and the Multiple Listing Service.

Timing -

Why You Should Not Wait to Purchase a Home

Even if you could "time the market," that strategy would most benefit first-time buyers. 

You see, people who already have a home usually need to sell it in order to come up with the down payment for their next home.  Even if they don't, they would have to carry the debt and obligations on two homes at the same time.  This can create financial hardship, even when you rent out the previous home.  There are maintenance costs, renters don't always make their payments on time, the rent may not cover the mortgage and other costs, and sometimes the property may be vac

Getting the House Ready to Sell

Disconnect Your Emotions

When conversing with real estate agents, you will often find that when they talk to you about buying real estate, they will refer to your purchase as a "home." Yet if you are selling property, they will often refer to it as a "house." There is a reason for this. Buying real estate is often an emotional decision, but when selling real estate you need to remove emotion from the equation.

You need to think of your house as a marketable commodity. Property. Real estate. Your goal is to get others to see it as their potential home, not yours. If you do not consciously make this decision, you can inadvertently create a situation where it takes longer to sell your property.

The first step in getting your home ready to sell is to "de-personalize" it.
 
Uncluttering the House

This is the hardest thing for most people to do because they are emotionally attached to everything in the house. After years of living in the same home, clutter collects in such a way that may not be evident to the homeowner. However, it does affect the way buyers see the home, even if you do not realize it.

Clutter collects on shelves, counter tops, drawers, closets, garages, attics, and basements.  You want as much open clear space as possible, so every extra little thing needs to be cleared away.