Selling Your Home for Maximum Profit: Tips From a Real Estate Agent

 Selling Your Home for Maximum Profit: Tips From a Real Estate Agent

Preparing Your Home for Sale

You’ve decided it’s finally time to sell your house and move on to bigger and better things. But how do

you ensure you get top dollar for your property in this hot housing market? As a real estate agent with

more than 5 years of experience, I’ve helped dozens of sellers maximize their home’s value and walk

away with the most money possible. In this article, I’ll share my insider tips to prep your property, price it 

right, market it strategically, and negotiate like a pro. With the simple tricks I’ve learned along the way, 

you can sell your home quickly and for maximum profit, even in competitive markets. Let’s dive in and 

get you the price you deserve!

Pricing Your Home Right in a Seller’s Market

Clean and Declutter

First things first, give your place a deep clean. Scrub floors, wash windows, dust baseboards—the whole 

nine yards. A clean home shows much better and makes a great first impression. 

While you’re at it, declutter and minimize clutter. Pack up knickknacks, excess decor, and personal items 

you don’t need. A tidy, streamlined space will make your rooms appear more open and spacious.

Make Minor Repairs

Now’s the time to fix any little issues around the house. Patch holes in walls, repair or replace leaky 

faucets, fix squeaky doors or cabinets—all those minor problems you’ve been meaning to get to.  Buyers 

will notice details, so make your home look well-maintained.

Stage Your Space

Home staging is key to helping buyers envision themselves in the space. Rearrange and minimize 

furniture to open up the floor plan.  Add decorative accents like candles, houseplants, colorful cushions to 

create an inviting ambiance. Make sure all rooms are well-lit—add additional lighting if needed.  

Curb Appeal Matters

It’s what’s on the outside that makes a first impression. Make sure your yard is mowed, raked, and edged. 

Plant flowers or shrubs to freshen up your landscaping. Power wash outdoor surfaces like decks, patios, 

walkways and siding. Touch up exterior paint if needed. A charming exterior will pique interest in what’s 

inside.

With some cleaning, sprucing up, and staging, you can transform your house into a showplace that will 

attract top-dollar offers. The effort you put in upfront will pay off when the offers start rolling in!

Working With a Real Estate Agent to Maximize Exposure

In a seller’s market, the ball is in your court as the seller. But to maximize your profit, you still need to 

price your home strategically. Price it too high and you’ll miss out on willing buyers. Price it too low and 

you’re leaving money on the table.  Find the Sweet Spot

A good real estate agent can help determine the sweet spot for pricing your home by analyzing recent 

comparable sales in your neighborhood. They’ll look at square footage, number of rooms, overall 

condition, and amenities to determine a competitive price range for your property. You want to price on 

the higher end of that range, but not exceed it.  

Be Flexible 

In a fast-moving market, the first offer you receive may not always be the best. As eager as you are to sell, 

don’t feel pressured to take the first decent offer that comes in. Let the bidding war begin! With high 

demand, the offers will likely continue rolling in. You can then evaluate the best combination of offer 

price and buyer terms. But don’t drag it on too long, or you risk the momentum slowing.

Consider Contingencies 

A strong offer isn’t only about the offer price. Also consider contingencies like the buyer securing 

financing, selling their own home, or a home inspection. Fewer contingencies mean less chance of a deal 

falling through. You may opt for a slightly lower offer with no contingencies over a higher offer with 

many. 

With the real estate market hot, now is an ideal time to sell your home for top dollar. But that also means 

navigating multiple offers and determining what really constitutes the best overall offer. By pricing 

competitively, allowing bidding wars, and evaluating contingencies, you can feel confident you’re selling 

your house for the maximum profit possible. Now go ahead—take that vacation you’ve been dreaming 

about!

Negotiating for Top Dollar With Interested Buyers

Once you’ve decided to sell, finding the right real estate agent is key to getting top dollar for your home.  

A good agent has the experience to properly market your property and tap into their network of buyers

and other agents. They know how to spread the word that your home is for sale.

An agent will list your home on the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and additional listing sites like 

Zillow, Trulia, and Realtor.com. This exposes your listing to the largest possible number of potential 

buyers.  They’ll also take professional photos to showcase your home in the best possible light. With their 

connections, they may also advertise your listing in relevant Facebook groups, neighborhood newsletters, 

and at local events.  

Agents are also skilled negotiators. They can help determine a competitive asking price based on current 

market conditions. And when you get an offer, they’ll work to get you the best possible deal. Their goal is 

the same as yours: to sell your house for the maximum price in the shortest amount of time.

A good agent knows how to market properties at different price points. If your home is more unique or 

high-end, look for an agent experienced in luxury real estate. They’ll have connections with buyers and 

agents in that market segment. For a starter or mid-range home, an agent focused on those types of 

properties is ideal. 

Once you start working with an agent, be prepared for them to swing into action quickly. In a hot market, 

the faster and more aggressively a home is marketed, the greater the potential for a bidding war and

higher final sale price.  An agent’s job is to generate as much interest in your home as possible in a short 

amount of time. Be ready to have prospective buyers viewing your home, sometimes with little notice! 

The inconvenience will pay off when you get a fantastic offer and can move on to the next chapter.

Using a Home Appraisal to Your Advantage

Once you’ve attracted eager buyers, it’s time to negotiate the best deal. As their agent, it’s your job to get 

your clients the highest price possible.  Come Armed With Facts

Do your homework on the property and current market conditions. Know the specifics about the house 

like when the roof was replaced or upgrades were done. Check recent selling prices of comparable 

properties. The more details you have, the better you can justify your asking price.

Don’t be in a Rush

Even if the buyers make an offer quickly, don’t feel pressured to accept it right away. Tell them you have 

other interested parties and will be reviewing all offers. This makes them feel like competition exists, 

even if it doesn’t. Give it a few days before countering or accepting their offer. 

Start High

When you do provide a counteroffer, go slightly above your target price. This gives you some wiggle 

room for negotiating. The buyers will likely come down in their offer, so you want to start from a position 

of strength. Make it clear you won’t consider anything below a certain threshold to anchor them at a 

higher point.

Consider Terms 

It’s not just about the final dollar amount—the terms and conditions also matter. Maybe the buyer wants a 

quick closing or is willing to pay cash.  These types of terms could justify accepting a lower offer. Or you 

might get a higher price by negotiating extras like the buyers covering closing costs or purchasing 

appliances. Consider all options to find the best overall deal for your clients.

Hold Your Ground

The buyers may get frustrated if negotiations drag on and issue an ultimatum. Don’t let threats rattle you. 

Stand firm in your counteroffers and terms.  Their “final offer” often isn’t actually their best offer. Call 

their bluff and be willing to walk away if you have to. When they see you won’t cave under pressure, 

they’ll likely come back with a better offer rather than lose the deal altogether.

With patience and the right bargaining tactics, you can negotiate the absolute maximum price for your 

clients. Stay professional and keep emotions out of it—you have the facts and figures on your side, so 

stick to them! Keep an open mind in terms of creative deal terms that could work for both parties too.

And never be afraid to walk away from a deal if the buyers refuse to meet you in a reasonable place.There 

are always more buyers, but you only have one chance to get the best deal for this property.

Understanding Seller Credits and Closing Costs

A professional appraisal of your home can be one of the most useful tools for maximizing your sale price. 

An appraisal provides an objective estimate of your home’s current market value based on comparable 

properties that have recently sold in your neighborhood. Knowing this number gives you a major 

bargaining advantage when negotiating with buyers.

Price Your Home Accurately

The appraisal can help ensure you’re pricing your home appropriately from the start. If you price too

high, you risk turning off potential buyers and having your home sit on the market. Price too low, and you 

lose out on thousands of dollars during the negotiation. An appraisal gives you a data-driven price range 

to work within so you can attract buyers without leaving money on the table.  

Be Prepared for Lowball Offers

Unfortunately, some buyers will try lowball tactics to get the lowest price possible. But with an appraisal 

in hand, you’ll know the reasonable value of your property. You can then counter their offer armed with 

facts about recent comparable sales to demonstrate why their price is too low. This allows you to 

negotiate from a position of strength and stand firm on receiving a fair offer.

Qualify Buyers and Their Financing

An official appraisal also helps ensure any buyers who make offers on your home will actually be able to 

obtain financing to follow through with the sale. Most mortgage lenders require an appraisal to determine 

if the property value supports the loan amount. If a buyer’s offer seems too good to be true, the appraisal 

may reveal they likely can’t actually qualify for that amount. You can then go back to the negotiating

table with realistic expectations.

In the end, knowledge is power. A professional home appraisal gives you valuable insight into your 

property’s worth so you can market it confidently and get the maximum profit you deserve. Be sure to 

consider an appraisal one of the best investments you can make when selling your home.

Staging Your Home to Attract Buyers

When selling your home, one of the final steps in the process is negotiating seller credits and closing costs 

with the buyer. As a seller, offering credits and covering certain closing costs for the buyer can make your 

property more attractive and help finalize the sale. However, it also reduces your net proceeds from the 

sale, so you need to go in with a strategy.

Determine Your Priority

Do you want to maximize your profit from the sale or facilitate the closing? If profit is most important, 

limit the credits and costs you’re willing to cover. If ensuring the sale closes quickly is top priority, you 

may need to be more flexible. Discuss your goals with your real estate agent to determine a reasonable 

range for negotiation.  

Typical Closing Costs

While closing costs vary, common fees include:

– Appraisal fee: The cost for the buyer to appraise the property. Usually a few hundred dollars.

– Title fees: Includes title search, insurance, and conveyance. Can be $500-$1500 total.  

– Transfer taxes: Varies significantly based on location. Could be a percentage of the purchase price.  

– Lender fees: The buyer’s lender will charge various application and processing fees. Around 

$1000-$3000.

Negotiating Credits and Costs

Once you have an offer, work with the buyer to determine how much, if any, of these costs you’re willing 

to credit them. You may be able to split some costs 50/50 or credit a flat amount, e.g. $5000. Be willing to 

compromise to keep the deal together, but don’t feel obligated to cover all costs unless absolutely 

necessary.

With the help of your agent, you can navigate seller credits and closing costs to balance your priorities

and facilitate a smooth closing. While it may reduce your proceeds somewhat, strategically offering

credits and covering select fees is often necessary to finalize the sale of a home. Stay within your 

predetermined range, but remain flexible, and you’ll maximize your profit and get the deal done.

Moving Out and Preparing for Closing

To get top dollar for your home, staging it properly is key. Make your place shine so buyers can see its 

potential. Focus on decluttering, cleaning, and enhancing flow and lighting.

Declutter and Clean

Go room by room and get rid of excess furniture, knickknacks, and clutter. Have a garage sale or donate 

unneeded items. Clean everything thoroughly—floors, windows, baseboards, appliances, you name it. A 

clean, uncluttered space will make your rooms appear more open and appealing.  

Enhance Flow 

Consider rearranging furniture to open up the space and create a smooth traffic flow between rooms. 

Remove any furniture blocking windows or doors. Make sure pathways are clear and inviting. A good 

flow will make your home feel more spacious.  

Improve Lighting

Maximize natural light by opening blinds and curtains during showings. Add task and accent lighting as 

needed to brighten dark spaces. Install higher wattage bulbs where appropriate. Good lighting makes a 

space feel more welcoming and helps buyers appreciate your home’s best features.

Focal Points 

Create focal points to draw the eye, like a bouquet of fresh flowers on the dining table or an artful 

arrangement on the fireplace mantel. Consider painting an accent wall in your living room or entryway. 

Focal points give a space personality and help make memorable impressions.  

Curb Appeal

Improve your home’s curb appeal—its exterior appearance. Mow the lawn, rake leaves, add mulch to 

gardens, paint the front door, install stylish house numbers, add potted plants. Curb appeal is important 

since it’s the first impression buyers get of your property. Make it count!

Staging your home strategically will help buyers visualize its potential and hopefully inspire a great offer. 

Take the time to declutter, clean, enhance flow and lighting, create focal points, and boost your curb 

appeal. The effort will pay off when you get top dollar for your place!

Real Estate FAQs: Answering Common Questions on Selling Your Home

The moving out process can be bittersweet, but staying focused on the closing will make it easier. Six to 

eight weeks before closing, start packing up belongings you don’t use often. Go room by room so you’re 

not overwhelmed. Ask friends to help pack and clean in exchange for pizza and drinks.

Have a yard sale or donate unwanted items to clear out clutter. The less stuff you have to move, the

better. Get estimates from moving companies and book one at least a month in advance. Make sure they 

are properly insured in case anything breaks in transit. 

Two weeks before closing, start cleaning the house thoroughly. Scrub floors, clean windows, dust 

baseboards, wipe down cabinets, and clean appliances inside and out. A sparkling home will make a great 

final impression on buyers and help you get the best price.

Have the movers pack up and collect the rest of your belongings two to three days before closing. Make 

sure to pack necessities you’ll need until closing day. Once the movers leave, give the house a final sweep 

to ensure nothing is left behind. 

On closing day, do a final walk through with the buyers to make sure all is in order before handing over 

the keys. Take a moment to reflect on the memories you’ve made in your home. Though it’s hard to say 

goodbye, the profit from the sale will give you financial freedom to start a new adventure.

Closing on a home is a complicated process with many steps to keep track of. But staying organized, 

keeping the end goal in sight, and maintaining a positive attitude will help make selling your place as 

painless as possible. The reward of a successful closing and a check in your hand will make all the effort 

worthwhile. Best of luck and happy moving!

As an experienced full-time Luxury & New Construction Realtor, servicing the state of 

Massachusetts; it will be an honor to support you to buy your first home. Whether as a first time 

homebuyer, investor or a dream home-builder; my team and I can support you to navigate the

home buying process seamlessly.Visit www.kimberlyadegokehomes.com to learn more.