Survey reveals key sale factors to consider

Survey reveals key sale factors to consider: "CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Oct 13, 2005 -- A recent survey of home sellers and real estate sales associates sheds light on the most important factors to be considered to successfully sell a home.

The survey, commissioned by RealEstate.com, asked 500 recent home sellers and 100 licensed, practicing real estate sales associates about the variety of critical elements involved in selling a home.

Some 65 percent of home sellers said that hiring a real estate professional to facilitate the sale is the best way to get the process off to a good start.

Pricing their homes was of major importance to sellers when they prepared to sell, and 51 percent of sellers and 64 percent of sales associates agreed that setting an asking price at 5 percent to 10 percent above what the seller would actually accept is a good range to follow when putting a house on the market.

Despite recent reports of housing booms and hot markets with inflated prices, 37 percent of sellers surveyed reported selling their homes at the list price, and more than half of the overall respondents reported selling at or below $250,000 (57 percent).

The length of time needed to sell a home varied between sellers and real estate professionals. Thirty-three percent of sellers reported that their homes sold within the first two weeks of putting it on the market, with another 27 percent citing homes selling within the first month. On the other hand, 41 percent of sales associates suggest budgeting two to three months from the time you put your home on the market to selling it.

Sellers and Realtors� agree that the local school system is the most important factor that buyers consider when choosing a home -- 48 percent sellers, 40 percent real estate associates.

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