Sellers would like to get the highest possible price for their home and buyers would like to pay as little as they possible could. The sale of your home will depend on many factors, including market conditions, your home's desirability, and how quickly you want to sell. In most real estate transactions, sellers and buyers meet somewhere in the middle—but there are ways to make the numbers work to your advantage.

 

Find out the value of your home
The best way to determine the value of your house is to get three comparative market analyses from real estate agents that specialize in the area you house is located at.   If you choose to work with an agent to sell your home, select one with a track record of local sales and a good marketing plan.

Be prudent when setting your price.
If you set your price 5 percent to 10 percent above market price, you are likely to end up with an offer close to your home's true value. Always try to calculate the cost per square foot of your house compared to homes already on the market (divide list price by square footage of livable space). If your house has more features or other desirable qualities, you may want to set a higher price. Always try to set your price just under a whole number, such as $239,900 instead of $ 240,000 this will help attract buyers.

List it at the right time
Put your house on the market during the spring or fall, when the most buyers are looking; avoid the seasonal slow periods of mid-summer and mid-winter. Remember, you're paying property tax, insurance, and other costs while you're selling. If you've already bought your next home, expenses can quickly add up.

Have your house inspected.
Having your home inspected by a qualified home inspector can save both money and heartache. You'll end up with a list of repairs you will be able to address before you sell. It is a good idea to avoid any surprises during the buyer's home inspection that will force you to lower the price or make costly repairs before closing.

Dress up your home like a model
Once repairs are done, give your house the model-home treatment. Your goal is to take the breath away of all buyers willing to pay for a home in mint condition. Paint, floor polish, new light fixtures and fresh bedding plants are inexpensive ways to take your home from undesirable and plain to appealing and profitable.

Fine tune the purchase contract.
In the purchase contract, avoid paying a buyer's closing costs and if a buyer wants to close the sale contingent on selling his or her current house, include a kick-out clause that allows you to back out of the deal within 72 hours if you receive an offer that does not contain contingencies.

When considering an offer
In a seller's market with few listings, you may get other offers right away. But in a buyer's market with many listings, you risk offending the buyer who may then withdraw the offer.  If the price is in your range, consider market conditions and how quickly you want or need to sell.

You have nothing to loose...
When presented with a low offer consider testing the buyer's interest by countering the offer.  If your home is in a desirable location and in mint condition, and the buyer is genuinely interested in purchasing a home, you have a golden opportunity to sell. Find out what the buyer really wants and shape the counteroffer accordingly. Signal your flexibility on contract terms or, if you can, offer seller financing in exchange for a higher price.