How do we list our home?

The easiest answer is to call a real estate agent.  Your agent will guide you through the process of listing your home.  Generally, most agents will recommend that you first prepare your home for sale.  Many agents will come to your home and give you specific suggestions to aid in this process.

Depending on the condition of your home and the type of market that you are in, preparation can include anything from a few minor repairs and a good cleaning, or as much as a complete staging of the house and major repair or renovation work, such as new carpet and paint. 

Once your home is ready for the market, your agent will help you determine a fair price by comparing your home to others in the neighborhood that have recently sold or are actively for sale.  Your agent will also take into account the unique features of your property and determine what they add to the overall value of the home. 

Once a price is agreed upon, the process is fairly easy.  You will sign a listing contract with a real estate agent for a specified period of time.  In good markets it is not uncommon for agents to ask for only a 3 month listing term, meaning that you would have the right to list with someone else after 3 months with no penalty to you if he/she has not sold your home.  In slower markets most agents will ask for at least a 6 month contract since it takes longer to sell a home in down real estate cycles.  Everything, however, is negotiable including commission. 

As a general rule, you never pay a real estate agent a dime until they actually sell your home.  At that point, when the home actually closes, the agent will take his/her commission from the net proceeds on the sale of your home.

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