As soon as you decide to sell it. If you want to get the best price for your house, the key is to give yourself as much time as possible to sell it. More time means more potential buyers will probably see the house. This should result in more offers; it also gives you time to consider more options if the market is slow or initial interest is low.

A successful sale requires that you concentrate on five considerations: your price, terms, condition, location and exposure. Since you can’t control all of them, you may have to overcompensate in one or more areas to offset a competitive disadvantage in another.

The first thing you should do is begin focusing on what you’re looking for in a home. You can start by establishing priorities in the following three areas:

• Location:
  Are you relocating to a new town because of a new job, or to be closer to your current job? How will the location of schools, shops, and transportation affect your choice of neighborhoods?
• Personal tastes:
  How large a home do you need? What style of architecture do you prefer? On what kind of lot? Depending on where you live, you may have a choice of homes in dozens of styles, sizes and settings.
• Budget:
  How much home is it wise for you to own? As you consider these areas, do a little research on your own. Look through magazines for ideas about home styles and features. Drive through neighborhoods that appeal to you to see what’s available. Read the real estate listings in the newspaper to learn about current prices in the areas you’re considering. Talk to friends about the features that you’d really like to have in your home. The more knowledgeable you become, the better your final decision is likely to be.

Buying a home is certainly one of the most rewarding experiences most of us ever have; It’s also one of the most challenging. If you’re buying for the first time, the process may seem overwhelming. And even if you’ve been through it several times, every move is different, and presents new challenges.

“go it alone.” A good agent has the training and know-how and the experience to help you through  each step of the process, and make the process of finding, buying, and moving into your new  home as smooth, quick and enjoyable as it can be. Another advantage is that an agent represents a valuable source of information about market trends, communities and neighborhoods, and especially, homes for sale throughout the area. Remember, not every home seller runs an ad in the local paper or puts a sign up in the yard. In fact, many homes actually sell before there is ever a need to advertise them.