At first the task seems daunting: you haven't sold a one before, the Ottawa market looks complex, and what worked for owners 10 or 20 years ago seems inappropriate today.

What steps should you take? Here's a baseline list to get you started.

1. You Can Do It: Some??? million existing homes were sold in 200, more then ???
   a day. Other Ottawa owners have done it, and so can you.
   
2. Define Your Goal: do you want the highest sales price-or the biggest check at
   closing? They're not necessarily the same. Imagine that two Ottawa homes sell for $300,000 each, but one owner pays 2 points and agrees to replace the roof. The owner who sold without such costs got a bigger check at settlement. The bottom line: To have a successful sale you need to look at both price and terms-you must have a strong negotiator in your corner.
   
3. Times Have Changed: Today's Ottawa real estate marketplace is radically different when compared with 10- years ago. Purchases now use the Internet, receive seller disclosure forms, get home inspections, and are routinely represented by buyer brokers. The result is that buyers can be better prepared than in the past.
   
4. Sparkle and Shine: Imagine going to a supermarket and seeing dusty fruit or
   aisles filled with old shelving and cans. It doesn't happen because the grocery
   store knows how to present its goods. Sellers must do the same. Get rid of things
   you don't want to move, organize closets and storage areas, and clean everywhere.
   
5. Mechanics Count: Buyers expect everything to work. Home inspections are now
   entirely common and what buyers miss home inspectors will catch. Fix and paint
   things now and they won't be an issue in the future.
   
6. Think Broadway: when buyers see your Ottawa home, it's show time. They want an environment where they can see themselves. Giving them a show where
   everything is painted, arranged, and attractive, a home where the only issue is
   when to move in.
   
7. How's The Market: Real Estate is local. Your Ottawa broker can explain current market trends in your community, including what's selling, what isn't selling, and why. This information is central to getting the best possible price and terms.
   
8. Know Your Rivals: your Ottawa property will be competing with other homes for buyer attention. Ask your broker how to be competitive-and how to have an edge.
   
9. What Time Is It: markets differ by location and time. When interest rates are low and the local job base is growing, it's great to be a seller. But when times are slack and mortgage rates are rising, homes also sell. In 1981, when the prime rate topped ??? percent and the population was smaller, 2.4 million existing homes were sold. The trick is to be realistic, to get as much as market conditions will allow.
   
10. Understanding The Plan: real estate marketing involves far more than a sign in the yard and an ad in the Ottawa paper. Successful brokers use a variety of methods to attract and qualify prospects, including the latest Internet and communication advances.

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