A home is often the largest asset an individual has and is considered one of the safest investments available.

A home is one of the few investments you can enjoy by living in it while it appreciates in value.

A portion of each amortized mortgage payment goes to principal which is an investment.

Property taxes and qualified home interest are deductible on an individual's federal income tax return.

A homeowner can exclude up to $500,000 of capital gain if married filing jointly or as much as $250,000 if single or filing separately. The home must have been the taxpayer's principal residence for the previous two years.

A REALTOR can usually show you any home whether listed with a company, a builder, or even a For Sale by Owner.

When buying a For Sale by Owner, it can be very advantageous to work through a REALTOR who will be looking out for your best interests.

Ask the real estate professional for a list of buyers that he or she has helped. Call several names to verify that you will receive good service.

Ask the real estate professional if they are familiar with the neighborhoods you want to live in. Ask how many buyers they have worked with there in the past year.

Ask the real estate professional who he or she is representing in the transaction.

Your real estate professional can provide you with a list of items you will need to make a loan application so you will be ready when the time comes.

A pre-approval program can approve you for a specific loan amount subject to the property appraising adequately. This both gives you confidence and should help in negotiating with the seller.

A real estate professional who can provide you financial information with a computer will give you a distinct advantage in making the right decisions.

The right to conduct a property inspection, included in your sales contract, will give you the ability to negotiate with the seller before spending money to have a professional inspect the property.

A home protection plan can provide coverage for selected items such as central heat and air conditioning, interior plumbing, built-in appliances, pool equipment, and other things. If the seller is not providing this coverage, you can purchase it yourself.

Many buyers who might enjoy a new home are looking at existing homes in established neighborhoods. They are attracted by mature trees, landscaping, schools, parks, and a full range of retail shops close at hand. If you live in one of these neighborhoods and your home no longer fits your life stage or lifestyle, then this is a selling opportunity for you. Location is the byword in real estate, but it is one aspect you cannot change when considering sale of your home. There are a number of changes you can make to prepare your home for sale.

Sellers frequently ask "How much should I spend to prepare my home for market?" or "What should I do to prepare my home for market?" The easy answer is as little as possible. Make big investments for your own enjoyment while you live in a home and accept any property value increase at sale as a side benefit. Many small repair or remodeling investments can reap major benefits.

Exterior and curb appeal may be maximized at relatively little expense. Keep curbs, lawns, hedges, and beds as well-manicured and free of refuse as possible. In this area, color can be added to beds at any season of the year at little expense, and a little color can really make a home stand out from its neighbors in winter. Power washing walls, drives, and walks will add to the neat and tidy look of a property. Unless it is immaculate, consider a coat of paint for the front door. Always try for a tasteful look with broad appeal. Of course, some homes are badly in need of paint or a roof and may require work before buyers will respond, but a new roof seldom returns 100% of its cost while a fresh, neutral paint job may do so. At least, get rid of any rotten siding or trim and touch-up paint as necessary to improve marketability.

Thoroughly clean and remove clutter from every room to improve interior appeal. Include a professional cleaning for any soiled carpets, but beware of "deals" which promise cleaning at a price too good to be true. Your home will look bigger and brighter with clear traffic paths for buyers touring your home. Use a professional cleaning service every few weeks to maintain the look while your home is on the market. Removing clutter includes clearing even daily use items from countertops and closets. This could be a great time to lift burdens on closets and attics, as well, by holding a garage sale.

Decorate for a quick sale by retouching paint on walls and woodwork and adding paintings or plants to bring rooms to life. Also, open curtains and clean windows to let the sun produce a more cheerful look. Check bathroom caulking and fix any leaks or stains from past leaking faucets. By all means, repaint any stained spots on ceilings after ensuring they do not result from current roof leaks. Place new towels in all bathrooms and consider new cabinet knobs, towel rods, and other fixtures where their appearance dates the house and the expense of replacement is not great.

Among major investments which offer good returns in time and sale price, replacing stained or worn carpets with mid-grade neutral color carpet can return 100% and bring faster offers. Minor kitchen remodeling can return 80% while new appliances, cabinets, and countertops usually return closer to 70%. In a bath, adding a new tub, sink, shower, flooring, or windows for more light can return about 70% of the investment, but may be worthwhile if the old room really detracts from the home's marketability.

In short, clean, neat, light, airy, and modern will help you realize the full value from your home in a timely fashion. Remember: never hesitate to ask for advice.

The first and foremost reason why homeowners try to sell their own home is to save the commission. Generally, this means accepting headaches with any possible savings.

Who really saves the commission, the seller or buyer? If a buyer has to learn the process of buying on their own, identify neighborhoods, find homes, write and negotiate the contract, secure financing, arrange inspections, and coordinate the closing on their own rather than using an agent, then the buyer is likely to save the commission and more from any offer. It is hard for both buyer and seller to save the same commission, and the buyer will have control in most markets.

Homeowners have trouble pricing their home correctly. A low price leaves money on the table which may be more than any commission. A high price drives potential buyers away and extends time on the market which may require repeated price cuts to revive buyer interest. Time and money can be lost through mispricing a home.

Owners selling their own homes have to make themselves available at almost any time, on a moment's notice, to show buyers when they want to see the home. Work, family, and social schedules are interrupted for both prospective buyers and people simply wanting to look inside the home.

Professional REALTORS are able to qualify prospective buyers and help weed out those who are only looking and lack the financial ability to buy. They are also trained to deal with common objections such as "We've decided to rent a while longer" or "The price is too high" before a potential buyer leaves to "Just think it over." Safety is an issue in some cases.

Professional real estate agents protect themselves by meeting buyers at the office where others can see the buyer and where they may even make a copy of the buyer's driver's license. These precautions are difficult or impossible for a homeowner to take when strangers show up to tour the home.

Courteous buyers may feel constrained in discussing any "faults" which they see in a home if the owner, rather than a real estate agent, is showing them the home. On the other hand, owners may find it painful to hear potential buyers criticize their home.

Real estate agents are prepared to answer objections and have the professional status to lend credence to their solutions while owner statements will be viewed as biased.

Potential buyers may be hard for homeowners to find while professional real estate agents have many ways to attract buyers. They use ads in papers and magazines, on the internet, open houses, past clients, for sale signs, company contacts, agent contacts, ads to attract other agents with buyers, referral organizations, and the local Multiple Listing Service. All of which can be placed in motion on a listed home.

Since 90% of home buyers use a real estate agent, homeowners selling outside the system restrict themselves to only 10% of the market. Even the 10% of buyers who do not use a real estate agent are more likely to purchase a listed home where help is available to arrange financing and title work on the property.

Buyers need help obtaining financing, and professional real estate agents have a network of professionals who regularly handle the mortgage financing and the title closing aspects of the transaction.

These steps are difficult when both buyer and seller are inexperienced and unknown within this financial and legal community.

The most critical step in marketing any home is setting the right price. Owners are emotionally involved in their home and may have trouble arriving at an objective price which makes sense in the market. After all, a seller may set the price, but the market (buyer) will determine its value. History shows that houses priced correctly at the beginning sell the quickest and bring the most money.

There are many obstacles in the path of correct pricing of a home.

Owners may want to price based upon their investment in the property rather than any fair market value. Sunk costs have little relevance to a potential buyer.

Sellers fearing leaving money on the table figuring buyers will make an offer at a lower number, anyway, or that they can come down later if necessary. Usually, most activity related to a home comes in the first few weeks on the market. Buyers missed tend to be buyers lost.

Inflationary times see rapid price rises, and recessions see rapid price drops. It takes a professional who is regularly in the market to spot and ride economic market trends.

An inexperienced or unprepared agent may be willing to list a home at any price just to get the listing while a leading agent will be more likely to give worthwhile advice and support pricing suggestions with hard facts.

Overpriced homes usually spend extra time on the market cost extra advertising and promotional expense, but may result in a higher than expected offer. This can still cause significant problems. For example, the sale may not close because the mortgage company will not loan on a home which does not appraise at or above the agreed price. The seemingly terrific sale may be no sale at all.

As a professional REALTOR, I have the experience to provide you with comparable sales in your neighborhood and produce the best available price to allow you to receive full market value from a qualified buyer within a reasonable amount of time. By looking at homes on the market in your neighborhood and recent sales, the right price is easy for a true professional real estate agent to determine, but the market sets the value of a home.