You will still need to do some homework and planning to ensure you get top dollar on the sale. Here is a summary of the process:

• With the help of your sales associate, review the latest real estate market trends and determine the right selling price.
• Estimate the amount you’ll make from the sale.
• Review financing options available to potential buyers.
• Arrange for inspections.
• Make any necessary repairs.
• Get the house in showing condition.
• Review the offers your agent presents to you.
• Close the deal.

Selling with a Professional at Your Side

Once you have decided to sell, your next step is to hire a real estate agent to help sell your house. Given the complex personal and financial decisions involved, enlisting the help of an experienced and objective real estate professional can save you time, frustration and potentially thousands of dollars. Some consider selling their home on their own.

If so, ask yourself the following questions: Are you prepared to buy advertising space? If not, can you afford the time it will take to sell your house with only a sign in the yard? Are you willing to stay close to home for days, weeks, maybe months to show your house? Do you know the up-to-date ways to market your home on the internet? Do you possess the necessary knowledge to answer buyer’s questions, negotiate a contract or close a sale?

If you answered “No” to any of these questions, enlisting a Century 21 Integrity Real Estate agent will provide the following services:

• Assist with pricing the house properly, based on a Comparative Market Analysis
• Provide a detailed marketing plan.
• Screen potential buyers for financial qualifications.
• ASP Staging Realtors providing suggestions for making your property more attractive to potential buyers.
• Access the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which exposes your house to all cooperating member brokers.
• Expose your home to potential buyers on century21.com, the most trafficked franchisor real estate website.
• Virtual tours on all properties
• CENTURY 21 LeadRouter.
•  Show your home, with your permission.
• Answer buyers’ questions.
• Present all offers.
• Negotiate on your behalf.
• Facilitate the closing process.

Selecting a Real Estate Agent

Since you’ll be working closely with your real estate agent, it’s critical that you not only select someone who has a great selling record, but also someone with whom you are comfortable and trust. Look for a solid track record, but also a professional manner and one who listens to your needs.

Ask friends and neighbors who have recently sold homes for recommendations. However a referral from a family member or friend doesn’t guarantee a perfect match! Regardless of how you get an agent's name, it might be worth interviewing at least a couple before you make a final decision — or at least arming yourself with some criteria to go over with any agent who has been recommended to you.

Check the selling history and credentials of any prospective agent. Interview them about the techniques they would use to price and market your home. Be cautious of anyone who suggests they can get an unreasonably high sales price. An agent might use a high listing price to secure a contract, only to seek a lower price later, after little traffic is generated at the initial price level. Meanwhile, you've lost what can be the most critical time period in selling a home — the first 30-60 days.

Is your agent a Full Time agent? The number of transactions an agent is handling monthly or yearly is going to give you an indication of how committed the agent is to the profession. Is the agent only part time, just dabbling in real estate sales — or is the agent a full-time professional whose livelihood depends entirely on an ability to successfully close real estate transactions?

Is the agent part of a national network? Century 21 is the largest real estate company in the world. This can be especially important if you're selling in one city in preparation of moving to another. Your selling agent can refer you to a professional, compatible agent in your destination city — and keep in close contact with that agent so both your selling and buying efforts are closely coordinated. This ability to ‘go global’ reliably is invaluable.