Answers by Lindsay Hart

Hi Ben, if you aren't employing a buyer agent to advocate and negotiate on your behalf and are going it alone, and are directly negotiating with the seller - because perhaps this is a for sale by owner situation - then I might suggest looking at other terms or conditions of the offer beyond the asking price that the seller might find attractive, if you cannot go above the asking price or even come up to the asking price. What about helping to cover some of the seller closing costs -such as paying for the updated survey, covering the costs of well water testing and septic pumping (if applicable). Are you flexible with closing date? Are you comfortable waiving any contingencies? The less risky you make your offer for the seller the more likely they will accept even though it might not be full price because it's more guaranteed to get to closing. I hope this helps.

Ibrahim, when it comes to selling your home, your agent is your advocate and guide. They are the marketing experts and can handle the marketing of the property, the pricing (as they know the market and how it changes quickly), and whether the property qualifies for an open house. They should take you step by step through the process and the paperwork and explain to you how it all works and the level of involvement you have. They should explain all the documents and what you sign and what it means. They should break down the steps of the transaction. They will negotiation on your behalf and give you the best and worst case scenarios as they have the experience and have been through this multiple times. They will protect your interests and explain the level of risk for you. When you get an offer they should explain all the terms beyond the purchase price and roughly what you would walk away with - there are costs associated with selling and if they cannot explain those with some knowledge, then interview other agents. This is a process and they should provide you with strategies to maximize your profit prior to getting you on the market. You should be educated on the process and make decisions all along the way but trust that your agent has your best interests at heart and hire the one that you trust and then listen to them.