Q: How long does it truly take to sell a house? What factors do sellers overlook?

A: If you are thinking about selling your home, you probably have heard how active and fast moving today’s real estate market is. There are still a number of steps you have to go through to complete a successful sale. Working with a Realtor who is experienced in your area will help with each of the following steps:

Establish the correct price for your house. Many sellers overlook this step, thinking that in this market, a house will sell at any price.

Get your home in “show” condition before it hits the market. The best-looking houses sell the fastest and for the most money.

Develop a marketing strategy for maximum exposure. Even in a sellers’ market, the more people who know about your property, the faster the results.

Negotiate the best terms for your situation. Signing a contract in the first week doesn’t do any good if the deal falls apart three weeks into the process.

Today’s lending requirements are more involved than in the past, and on average, it takes 25 to 40 days for the buyer to get approval. Sign documents at the closing.

— John Broz, Gary Greene BH&GReal Estate. (713) 861-4448