Why pay a real estate agent to market your property when you can do it yourself with the right resources and a little coaching? Learn home-selling process step by step and links to other sources of information.

Selling a home brings on a whole slew of questions and, sometimes, anxieties. How much is your house really worth? What if you set the price too high or too low? Are you willing to pay a 5-6% commission for an agent's help? Should you repaint or remodel before putting the house on the market?

Because no one knows your home better than you do. Why pay a real estate agent to market your property when you can do it yourself with the right resources and a little coaching? Selling by owner allows you to control costs and fees, and recoup more of the home equity you’ve worked so hard to build. Consider this: A homeowner selling a $300,000 house through a full-service real estate agent could expect to be charged a 6 percent commission (approximately $18,000), plus additional fees. Not only can you hang onto that money selling by owner, you retain complete control of your listing.

Learn about home-selling process step by step and links to other sources of information.

Step One: Decide How the Local Market Will Affect Your Sale

Hot or cold? A "hot" market is one in which there are more buyers than sellers, so the buyers are competing with each other and driving up prices. A "cold" market is one with more sellers than buyers, so the buyers can be choosy and bid low. In a hotter market, you can price your house aggressively. In a cooler market, setting the price at or a little below market value is best, so that the house doesn't stagnate on the market.

Do some research. Don't rely solely on the national headlines -- even in the coldest of national markets, for example, houses in some neighborhoods or cities continue to hold their value and even attract multiple bids. Chatting with your neighbors can teach you a fair amount about the heat of the local market. Also, read your local newspaper's real estate section and talk to real estate agents you meet at open houses.

Step Two: Use Comparable Houses to Set Your List Price

What is a "comp"? The best source of pricing information comes from houses directly comparable to your own. In the real estate industry, a "comparable," or "comp," is a house with similar features, preferably located near yours. When identifying comps, look for houses with the same number of bedrooms, bathrooms, and other amenities.

Check current listings. To get comps, visit open houses, read classified ads (in print and online), and check out websites containing real estate listings. Websites that publish the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) are particularly helpful, such as www.realtor.com, by the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

Review actual selling prices. Of course, list prices don't tell you how much houses ultimately sold for -- that's the comparable data you really need. In a hot market, houses might go for well over list price, and vice versa. Do some research at websites that collect this data, such as Zillow or Trulia. This information will also help you decide which of the incoming purchase offers are realistic.

Do your own homework. Don't wait for your real estate agent, if you work with one, to put a dollar figure on how much your house is worth. For one thing, less scrupulous agents may inflate their estimates to capture your business. More important, you want to be educated about your house's real value so you can work intelligently with your agent and make rational decisions when negotiating with buyers. Most agents will suggest a price range for you to work with, and it won't help if you simply choose the highest number in the range, without having done your own research first.

Step 3: Assemble Your Team of Professionals

Most sellers prefer to work with a real estate agent or a lawyer at some point in the process. (In fact, in a handful of states, a lawyer must act as an integral part of negotiating and closing the sale.) Real estate agents usually charge a commission -- on average, about 5-6% -- to be split between your agent and the buyer's agent, if any. Lawyers normally charge by the hour, around $200 per hour. Need a Real Estate Lawyer?

Despite the costs, experienced, responsible professionals can ultimately save you time, money, and aggravation. Unfortunately, there are plenty of incompetent or unethical ones out there, too. Take the time to get referrals from friends, and meet with a few prospects before you hire anyone.

Or, if you're organized, good with finance and legal issues, and have some time to spare, you can sell the house on your own, and save the commission. For more on whether and how to get outside help, see  Do You Need a Real Estate Agent to Sell Your House?

Step 4: Make Your House Look Its Best

Before putting your house on the market, make it look as attractive as possible -- buyers will pay thousands of dollars more for a house they like the look of. Usually you don't need to do a major remodel. A fresh coat of paint, however, can brighten your home's prospects considerably.

We’re glad you asked! We’re on a mission to empower sellers and buyers with all the resources they need to sell or buy properties directly. With a suite of easy-to-use marketing tools that advertise listings across a network of top real estate websites and the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), how-to guides and live customer support, we’ve been the leading “by owner” real estate website in the U.S. since 1999.

For more information on getting your house ready, see Preparing Your House for Sale Without a RealtorForSaleByOwner.com Makes It Easy To Sell Your Home Yourself. Get stated here