1. Ensure the price is right
Objectivity can fly out the window when there’s a rush to put your home on the market. So look carefully at the competitive market analysis (CMA) Isabella prepares to help you determine a fair listing price. It details how your home’s size and features stack up against other properties in your neighborhood. Your home will sell much faster if it’s priced in the same ballpark range that similar listings in your building have recently sold for.

2. Cut the clutter
Ever wonder what’s so inviting about unpacking in an elegant hotel room? One reason may be that it doesn’t contain anyone else’s clutter. Knickknacks and family photos are distractions to potential buyers and reduce their sense of being able to envision themselves in your home. So clear shelves and countertops and pack these items away for your move. Paring down will also make your home appear larger and play up its storage areas. So clear out everything from your overflowing spice cupboard to unruly bathroom vanities. If this seems too daunting a task, consider enlisting the help of a professional organizer. Hourly rates can start as low as $50.

3. “Stage” for success
The increasingly popular art of home staging focuses on enhancing the overall appearance of a property so that it will appeal to the broadest range of prospective buyers. Studies indicate that people typically decide within seconds whether or not they’re attracted to a home, so first impressions are critical.

Some homeowners think that selling their own home will save money and give them an advantage over the Realtor-using majority. Before you start down this complicated path, here are a few reasons why using a real estate professional is important:

1) You will be drastically limiting your exposure to potential buyers, which means it can take between 10 and 15 times longer to sell your home. Houses that take a long time to sell usually sell for less because buyers believe there must be something wrong with them.

2) Most buyers find negotiating with sellers extremely awkward, and therefore avoid For Sale By Owner situations.

3) Most buyers use a Realtor in their home search, and most buyers' agents will typically not work with FSBOs because they will not be paid. This means you will have to offer a selling commission to attract buyer's agents, which will cut into your expected "savings."

4) Lack of negotiating experience can result in a lower selling price, or worse, a bungled contract and possible lawsuits. It is probably unwise to pit your negotiating skills against those of experienced professionals.

5) If you plan to use a lawyer to help you negotiate, your lawyer's fees could be considerably higher than a Realtor's commission. Unlike Realtors, lawyers do not get paid for proactively representing your best interests or mediating delicate situations.

6) You only pay a commission to your Realtor if they successfully sell your home at a price you are happy with.