Once you've decided to sell a house, you must start planning for the experience ahead and preparing the home for potential buyers. A trusted real estate agent is indispensable, providing support at every step and ensuring your home receives maximum exposure. But there are some steps you should and shouldn't take to help this process along; the following guide looks at a few.

Do:

Be available for showings.

You can't sell a house if buyers can't access it. Once the home is listed, make plenty of room in your schedule for showings and try to be flexible if there are last-minute changes or people who want to stop by without much notice. Also, the property should be kept in an "available" state as much as possible by clearing access to the front door, leaving parking spaces open for guests, and keeping your home clutter-free and ready to welcome prospective buyers at a moment's notice.

Stage the house in the most flattering ways.

Staging is a crucial component of selling a house. It helps potential buyers envision themselves in the space and see the possibilities the home possesses. Your Realtor^® can recommend a professional stager, or you can do it solo. Try to see the house as a stranger would and focus on those parts of the home that make it particularly unique or appealing. Sellers often choose to highlight fireplaces, windows that get plenty of natural light, cozy furniture arrangements in the living room, and warm light from lamps and candles rather than harsh overhead fixtures.

Don't:

Price it too high.

Overpricing can mean the difference between lengthy, drawn-out negotiations and a speedy sale. When you initially price a home too high, the property essentially loses momentum, and would-be buyers are turned off. Consult your real estate agent and research the market rate of homes in your area to price the property accordingly.

Wait until spring.

There's a popular misconception that homes only really sell in the spring. But that's not necessarily true anymore, especially in light of the current housing market's uptick in demand. You can successfully sell your home any time of the year, and eager buyers are just as willing to make an offer in the summer, fall, or winter as they are in the spring.

If you're ready to sell a house, rely on The Justice Group in Oak Ridge, NC. They have over 20 years of experience representing motivated buyers and sellers and will guide you throughout the process. Call (336) 324-5716 to schedule a consultation.