Peter Shoberg

I love to read good answers like Jack's and Bryan's. Here are my "two-cents".

There are five primary steps often used in selling a home, although each step can have a wide range of sub-steps, nuances, or common practices.

1) Pricing - you may be reasonably certain what the home will bring, but picking the wrong price point could hinder the exposure. Also, understanding the likely search criteria (school district, price, size, etc) of the most proabable buyer is helpful.

2) Marketing - It sounds like the house will sell itself, but not without getting it presented to a broad pool potential buyers. Using internet websites (including MLS) is probably the cheapest way to get the most exposure, but using the local MLS likely brings the highest percentage of bonafide buyers to the front door. Coordinating showings can be time consuming and burdensome.

3) Negotiating - the payer of most closing costs is usually negotiable, but there are often customary amounts and practices specific to each market. To me the issue is not who is paying for which cost, but rather, are the net proceeds acceptable. Interpreting the other party's motivation and abilities is not always easy either. As Bryan wrote, the value of separation from the other party shouldn't be discounted. Which forms and disclosures are appropriate?

4) Contract Management - easily the hardest and most time consuming part of any transaction. The number of inspections and deadlines and potential pitfalls is very high. Right now the loan process alone is a quagmire of headaches. What is the best way to handle the issues that airse?

5) Closing / Money - theoretically the title and escrow companies ensure accuracy in accounting, but I'm no longer surprised to find discrepancies between purchase agreements and closing statements.

No doubt....hire a professional, and remember service levels and commissions can vary - Tue Apr 28 2009, 12:44