The goal is to make your home as appealing as possible to the most potential buyers before photos of your home are taken. Staging your home can include anything from redecorating to rearranging furniture, cleaning, or other aesthetic strategies to present the home in the best possible light. You can do it yourself, have your real estate agent guide you, or hire a staging company.

In most cases, the buyer pays for the home inspection.

If someone is selling a home that needs repairs but chooses not to fix them, they may list a property as-is. Disclosures and inspections are typical steps in the process. In an as-is sale, a buyer willingly purchases the home in its current state with full knowledge of its condition.

When selling a property, it is incumbent upon the seller to disclose any details about the home that might negatively affect its value.

Factors such as the time of year and market conditions play a big role in how quickly a property sells. How you price, market, and stage your home are also very important variables that will affect how long a home remains on the market.

Any fixture that is ‘attached’ or built into the house typically remains. For example, if your house has built-in bookshelves, they typically stay with the house. The same is true of kitchen or bathroom fixtures and fireplaces. Exceptions and details can be discussed during the negotiation process.

Many factors alter the housing market, but understanding what to expect and being prepared beforehand can make buying and selling a property possible at the same time.