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10 steps to quick selling in seller''s market.

Article Excerpt
Byline: Michele Lerner, SPECIAL TO THE WASHINGTON TIMES

During a seller's market, it might seem easier for homeowners to sell property, but there are still steps that make the process smoother.

Whether the decision is made months in advance or a few weeks before putting the home on the market, the countdown is the same, from finding the right Realtor to handing over the keys on settlement day.

"There's no set time frame for deciding to sell a house," says Realtor Ed Crowley, with Long & Foster in Bethesda. "Sometimes when someone receives a job transfer, they need to put their home on the market within three days, and other times people make a decision as much as six months before they will actually put their home on the market."

According to Ann Nichols, assistant manager of Weichert Realtors' McLean Center office, "pre-planning everything is key when you are selling your home, from the streamlining of your home to instructing the settlement attorney on what to do with your funds on closing day."

In any situation, the countdown begins for sellers with choosing a Realtor.

10. Meet with several Realtors and choose one to be the listing agent.

An initial step for both buyers and sellers is to choose a Realtor with whom they feel comfortable and who they feel will best represent them during the buying or selling process. Sellers may want to work with the Realtor who represented them when they bought their home if this agent represents both buyers and sellers, or they may find they would rather work with another agent recommended by friends or neighbors. Interviewing several agents before choosing one is always a good idea.

"Once homeowners have decided they want to sell their home, they should meet several Realtors and choose one to work with," Mr. Crowley says. "It's very important to meet with the Realtor in your home so that the Realtor can take a look at your property....