What is your timeframe? Ideally, when do you think you can start showing your home to prospective buyers and when would you like to move?

What do you think your home is worth? One of the most important aspects of selling your house is deciding on an asking price, an asking price reflects the location and condition of your home, buyer demand and other market conditions, including the economic outlook of lending institutions. Ask your Julia B. Fee Sotheby's International Realty® agent about what factors you should consider when determining an asking price for your property.

Have you built substantial equity in your current home? Check your annual mortgage statement or call your lender to find out how much you've paid down If you've owned your home for five or more years. you may have significant unrealized gains and it may affect the price you sell your home for.

How was the experience last time you sold? If you've sold a property before, think about what worked well and what didn't.

Get replacement estimates.
Do you have big-ticket items that Will need to be replaced soon? Find out how much it Will cost to repair an older roof or replace worn carpeting, even if you don't plan to do so. The figures will help buyers determine if they can afford the home, and those numbers will be handy when negotiations begin.

Locate warranties.
Gather up the warranties. guarantees, and user manuals for the furnace, and washer/dryer. dishwasher. and any other items that will remain with the house. It may seem like this task can be left until closing, but you don't want Iost paperwork or last-minute scrambling to cause the deal to fall through.

Check building permits.
Go to your local building department to verify that your property is in compliance with the building code and that there are no open permits. Work done on your home without a valid permit will affect the sale. Many lending institutions will not issue a mortgage until violations are removed. and sale contracts almost always require that all certificates of occupancy must be In place at the time of closing.

Appeal to the senses.
Inside your home, appeal to buyers in every room they enter. Simply by taking a critical look around, you can probably spot some changes that will help buyers start to imagine your property as their next home.

• Keep all drapes and shades open
• Use higher-wattage light bulbs
• Lighter-colored paint, furniture, and bed linens give the appearance of space and roominess
• Make every surface shine: countertops, mirrors, furniture
• Depersonalize rooms of personal photos and other objects
• Add pleasing scents throughout the house

Prepare for the photoshoot.
Before the photographer arrives, take some photos with your camera to give you an idea of what the home will look like in the professional shots. Examine your photos and make changes to improve each room's appearance: open the blinds and remove clutter, countertop appliances, decorative housewares, or distracting art.

The offer and contract process varies widely depending on the community or town where your home is located. In most cases, the process begins with a written offer. The offer may come in the form of a binding agreement or contract, and in other cases it is a simple agreement to establish a "meeting of the minds" from which a formal contract will be drawn. In Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts a seller must be represented by an attorney. The buyer's offer should outline their desired terms of sale, price, inspection contingencies, inclusions/exclusions, financing and closing date.

Your agent will explain local practices and what sort of initial agreement to expect when a buyer makes an offer.

An acceptable offer is not binding to either party until formal contracts have been signed by both parties and delivered back to the buyer's attorney.