Price is the first thing you need to focus on when selling your home. As much as you would like to get a specific amount for the house, it is important to consider factors that might influence the price you end up selling the house for.


When setting the price, see to it that you do not set an amount that is too high or too low. The former may be a deterrent to getting a buyer while the latter will work to your disadvantage. When the price is too high, buyers tend to shy off from buying the house. When the price is too low, you will definitely end up with a raw deal when you could have gotten more out of the sale.


To guide you in setting the price at the right level, consider what the prices are in the neighbourhood. Check at least three to five different houses that are similar or at least comparable to yours in terms of size and features.


You can also get a valuation done to determine how much your house is worth. Another way to find out what the long term price trend for the house is is by looking at house price surveys. These are done by a number of government, property and mortgage entities. They indicate whether the value of a specific property is appreciating or depreciating and can be very useful in determining the price of your house.


You can also make your house more marketable by improving on areas that need to be worked on. This could be repairs or fittings, especially if the price is inclusive of them. Clean and keep the house tidy at all times. You will be doing a lot of viewing and a lot depends on the prospective buyers’ impression of the house on first glance.


If you prefer to make the sale on your own, you can then spread word and put up a ‘For Sale’ sign on the house. You can also place adverts in the local daily or on websites. Websites are particularly great advertising channels because of their wide reach. There are a number of websites that allow private sale advertisements, even property/agency based websites.


If you are using an agent or agency, make your choice. Agents are different in how they operate and what they charge. Do some research to find out how good they are at what they do and whether their offer is good. If you are satisfied with an agent, sign the contract and let them take charge. When a good buyer comes along, find a conveyancer to prepare the papers needed to finalize the sale.