Many brokers also utilize social media in order to build networks and notify potential buyers as well as other real estate agents about homes recently listed for sale. An agent who has taken these steps is clearly cognizant of the importance of their presence on the Web. The MLS isn’t the be-all, end all of property listings. There are many real estate web sites that offer alternate listings of homes. While Craigslist.org remains a perennial favorite, having a good listing on several other real estate web sites is a major factor in making sure your listing is viewed by as many potential buyers as possible.

Good agents are knowledgeable regarding the most appropriate and most popular sites in your area, and they should be ready to submit your listings to multiple sites. Many excellent Realtors have developed specialties within their markets, such as small ranches, historical homes, or luxury homes.
Especially if your home falls into a specialty category, it’s a good idea to seek out an agent that is accustomed to selling properties similar to yours.

When shopping around for an agent, it is a good idea for sellers to examine various agents’ listings and determine their quality. Are they accurate and detailed, with full lists of amenities? Do they offer several good pictures, and maybe even interactive video tours or 360 degree photos? Your agent should have all the tools available to show your home to its best advantage. The best listings will give potential buyers a good idea of what your house is like, which will mean that it will attract more buyers looking for a home like yours. Some agents may even utilize professional photographers for home listings.

The best agents will also make certain that all prospective buyers taken to your house are pre-qualified before you are disturbed. Most of us don’t appreciate strangers wandering about in our homes uninvited. Making sure that potential buyers are pre-qualified for loans will mean only people who can actually buy your house will be taking up your time.

And finally, in this era, every dollar counts, so shop around for a real estate office that understands that you have just lost a lot of your equity to the economy. Perhaps you will find a broker that will work with you on commission as well, to help you keep as much of your remaining equity as possible. It can never hurt to ask.

For most however the location you are moving is a foregone conclusion and the luxury of waiting years to sell your home when the value your old area has increased is one few of us can afford. The best time to move then will simply be based on the driving factors forcing you to move, and on your own financial and emotional security. It may for example be worth waiting for your children to finish the year at school, or until you’ve saved enough money to place a large deposit on your new home.

Though you can’t dictate the value of properties in your area easily however, there are still several tactics you can use to increase the value of your property specifically and your chances of selling it. Obviously renovations will help drive up your property value, and loft and garage conversions or porch and conservatory extensions can help make your house bigger and more accommodating. This will benefit you in the short run but should also pay for itself when it comes to selling.

While all this will increase the actual value of your home and guide you on when and where to move, it will not necessarily mean that you can sell your property when the time comes. The technical value of the property is not enough to guarantee a sale and a certain element of marketing technique will come into it. This means tidying the house and making it look attractive to potential buyers (and not too personalised which will limit your audience), as well as advertising in the correct places and even bartering with the customer to settle on a price that both of you can be happy with (make sure you know the rough value of your home then set the starting price at a realistic but optimistic level to give yourself leeway).

As you can see then, making a private real estate sale is an art form that is far from straight forwards. With time and effort however and the right advice, it’s possible to go through the process in a way that will make it as un-stressful and profitable as possible.

You may ask yourself: how could that be?
It must be understood that the price and value of a home are two entirely different entities. The price of a home may be based on its features, amenities, location and square footage, while the value of a home is something is based on the home’s overall impression. It is the feeling that buyers get the moment they walk through the door of a home. The Houston home that was sold very quickly probably had an excellent, perceived value. This may mean that the home may feel larger or more spacious. It may mean that the rooms seem more bright and airy; that they look fresh, updated and attractive.

The following tips can help you increase your home’s value in the Houston real estate market – without breaking the bank!

- Spaces automatically look larger when there is limited furniture and clutter. Consider clearing out all unnecessary furniture before you list your home for sale. If buyers feel like the rooms of your home are larger – even if they’re not – your home will instantly have more value than a similar home down the street. Rent a storage unit or have a garage sale to cut down on all of the excess in your home.

- Allow buyers to imagine themselves in your home. You can accomplish this by de-personalizing your home; remove personal trinkets, family photographs and taste-specific decorative items. In other words, create a clean slate that will allow buyers to focus their attention on your home’s details; not your high school diploma hanging on the wall.

- You can instantly increase your home’s value simply by paying attention to cosmetics. In other words, scrub your carpets, thoroughly clean all your appliances, inside and out, and clean off your kitchen countertops. You don’t always have to make purchases; often times, you can achieve greater value by simply making what you already have sparkle.

- The value of your home can instantly plummet if you fail to tend to broken or unsightly household items. In other words, buyers don’t want to see a leaky bathroom faucet, dirty and nail-hole ridden walls, and stains on the carpet. All of these things may not decrease the price of your home, but they will certainly decrease your home’s perceived value. In other words, don’t ever underestimate the power of tending to the small details. After all, the smallest details often make the biggest difference!

- Take care of your home’s landscape. An unkempt landscape can turn potential buyers off, even before they walk through the door. So grab your gardening gloves and make sure the outside of your home looks as good as the inside.