THE ABC's OF SELLING A HOME

The sizzle really does matter when selling your home. Before anything else you should clean up and tidy up. Make as many cosmetic repairs to the house as your budget permits. I've known people who have fallen back in love with their homes after fixing them up, and have decided to stay put.

Dotting the i' s and crossing the t's
Once your home is in order it's time to do the same with your paperwork. If you have a mortgage, contact your mortgage holder (transferability, penalties and the possibility assumption are all issues to be discussed). You should try to find your property survey, and last year's realty taxes, hydro, gas and water bills.

Define your Objectives
Use The Registry or visit MLS Online and do a little research and find other comparable homes in your neighbourhood. This will assist you in determining a realistic price range. Think about closing dates and things you want or don't want to be included in the sale of the house.

Finding the Right Agent
There are hundreds of agents to choose from. Whether you ask friends for a referral, walk to your neighbourhood real estate office, or use the yellow pages, you should ultimately find an agent that you like and feel that you can trust (use your instincts). Interview a few agents and consider these points:

• Some agents give high valuation on homes just to get a listing.
• Some claim to be the "number one" ranked agent or a "top producer." Sales stats are only one component of a good agent; others include trustworthiness, reputation, personality, etc.
• Some claim a to have a "magic" marketing plan. The truth is there is only one thing that truly sells a house and that's the price.
• Some agents promise public open houses every weekend. Very few homes are ever sold as a result from an open house. Curious neighbours and wishful thinkers are usually the ones walking through the house. Agents usually use open houses to sell their own services. Walk in to the next one you see and you'll see what I mean.
• Some promise ads in papers. Again the primary reason agents do this is to advertise their own services and to possibly double-end (work for both the buyer and seller) the deal.
  

You will know when you find the right agent because will you both feel comfortable with each other.

Negotiating Commission
The industry standard usually ranges from 3.5 to 5.5 per cent (norm being 4.5 to 5.0 per cent). I am an agent so it is understandable that I do have a bias when it comes to this topic, but I can offer you two thoughts on this subject: you get what you pay for, and if an agent is wishy-washy and caves when negotiating commission, do you want him/her negotiating the price of your house?

Get Everything in Writing
It's easy to make promises, but a lot harder to keep them. Write down all verbal promises on the listing agreement. Also, insist on a marketing plan to be attached on to the listing (advertising, net exposure, virtual tours, open houses, and etc. should be included in the plan).

Finally ... Selling your House
The ultimate truth of real estate is that property sells for fair market value. If your house is sitting on the market for a while it's probably over-priced. You can either wait and hope the market picks up, or you can adjust the price -- it's your choice.