Some homeowners lack experience when it comes to selling their home.  If you jump into this business unprepared, you could leave thousands of dollars on the table.  Here are tips and tricks you can use throughout the whole process, from finding an agent to sealing the deal.

1. Don’t choose the agent on personality, but on effectiveness and expertise.
2. Negotiate the commission because there is no set rate for the commission.  The rate of commission will depend on what the agent and the seller has agreed upon.
3. When you price your home, aim a bit high on the price to give you some negotiating room.  This will also make the buyer feel that he or she won the deal.
4. Use forward pricing when deciding on the price of your home.  If homes in your area are appreciating by, say, 10% annually, and the last comparable home sold six months ago for $300,000, then yours should be priced at $315,000 (half of 10% of $300,000 equals $15,000, which is the amount that should be added to “forward price” your home).
5. You can also start a bidding war by pricing your home below market price.  You’ll get a number of offers and you’ll get a quick sale.
6. Let the agent do all the talking when the offers start coming in.
7. Instead of dismissing an offer that is much lower than the asking price, make some movement and get the conversation started.  This means that you are open to negotiations, but don’t act like you’re desperate to sell your house.
8. The longer you can keep someone at the negotiating table, the more likely you’re going to come to a conclusion that’s satisfactory to you.  This shows that the buyer feels more interested in getting the deal done.
9. Never entertain to split the difference early in a negotiation.  But if the buyer is willing to split the difference once, then he or she may be willing to split the remaining difference when you approach them again and say the original split isn’t workable or reasonable.
10. Consider a small concession as you’re getting close to sealing the deal.