by Barry Marcus

Created on: January 02, 2011   Last Updated: February 12, 2011

Sooner or later, almost every home-owner has to face the prospect of selling their home. When that time comes, how will you ensure that you get what it is worth? 

Sales techniques and good advertising certainly help to finalise a sale, but there are other, perhaps more important factors that are sometimes overlooked in the quest to get the most money for your home. These include the presentation, location and timing of the sale. Selling at the top of a property boom is the best guarantee of a great price. But even then, presentation can make a huge difference to help you get the most for you investment.

While market forces are beyond your control, there are plenty of ways to ensure that the house is shown at its best when placed on the market. The better the presentation, the higher the perceived value in the eyes of buyers. The higher the perceived value, the more money you will make. 

The property market is cyclical, subject to the boom and bust of the external economy. Selling your home when the market is heading south will fetch a lower price than selling at the top of a boom. Even more important than the market cycle is location. If you have bought in the right place, your property will do better. A good location is generally regarded as one of the keys to outperforming the market and the economy. 

Location is critical when it comes to property value and is something that you should consider before you buy. Sooner of later you will want to sell your home. If you have invested in a prime location, you are much more likely to reap rich rewards when you sell.

Selling at the right time can really help to get a lot of money from your home. The market is always on the way up or on the way to the bottom. Watching the market movements carefully can help you to identify the start of a boom. A boom is called a sellers' market. When you see the advertised prices of homes increasing from one week to the next, you will know that you are in a boom. During a strong sellers' market prices rise so quickly that buyers begin to panic about missing the boat. They are in a hurry to buy before being priced right out of the market. 

In this type of market you are able to ask your own price and stand a good chance of getting it. You could even try placing your home on auction, thus allowing prospective buyers to bid against each other. During a property boom, an auction is almost guaranteed to achieve the best price. 

Do not opt for an auction

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