Each year, about two million Americans sell their homes, some more successfully than others. How do you put yourself in the successful category? It only takes a little showmanship and a few tried-and-true tricks of the trade.

Trust the Experts. In today's highly competitive market, selling your home is no do-it-yourself project. Placing your home with a reputable real estate agent brings faster results, primarily because it brings more viewers to your home. More viewers means more prospects.

Offer your Realtor® a 90-120 day exclusive on your home. This gives the Realtor® the exclusive right to sell your home during a specified time period and also gives him or her an incentive to sell during the allotted time.

Why, you might ask, use a Realtor® when I could sell the home myself and save the commission? There are as many reasons not to do this as there are houses on the market. The buyer, for example, who sees a for-sale-by-owner sign in the front yard expects a bargain. He expects the amount saved on commission to play to his benefit. And, there are other pitfalls. Are you famililar enough with the market to properly price your home? Do you want curiousity seekers tramping through your home after work each day? Can you handle the intricacies of negotiating and financing? Do you want to? Your real estate agent performs several functions that will save you time, and probably increase profits, as well.

With an agent, your house will receive the optimum exposure it deserves and will, most likely, sell at a higher price—high enough to cover the cost of the real estate commission.

Choose a Realtor® who has the right combination of drive, integrity and knowledge to get the job done. Ask your bank representative to make recommendations.

Make sure you select an agent who bears the Realtor® logo, a patented trademark signifying a true professional. This guarantees the Realtor® is a member of the National Association of Realtors® and subscribes to the organization's code of ethics.

The Price Should Be Right. The value of your home is not necessarily what you think it should be. Why? Home values are primarily determined by two factors: the status of the market and the home's location. Knowing the market is the first step in proper pricing.

Your Realtor® can provide you with a realistic appraisal, or you can hire an independent appraiser to assess the value. If your home hasn't sold after a few weeks, a reappraisal may be in order. Overpriced homes that remain on the market for too long are hard to sell. Agents become discouraged, and buyers assume there is something wrong with the house.

Put Your Home's Best Face Forward. Nothing prevents a sale more than a rundown exterior or unappealing interior.

If your home needs exterior paint to make the grade, paint it, with a word of caution: be sure the value of the improvement added into the price of the home does not exceed normal neighborhood property values.

Other areas of improvement might include replacing loose shingles or tiles, fixing the fence, replacing loose floor-boards, repairing leaky faucets, tightening loose fixtures or doorknobs, planting flowers, trimming the hedges or mowing the lawn.

Other touches that don't cost a dime include placing a vase of flowers on the dining room table, simmering cinnamon sticks on the stove, playing soft music on the CD player or lighting a fire in winter.

Never forget, all the improvements in the world won't make up for a dirty house. Be sure your home is clean inside and out. Organize your closets, clean out the basement, keep the dishes washed and be ready to receive guests at any time.

Don't Help the Realtor®. Once you've selected an agent, disappear and let him do his job. Tell your agent in advance about the pluses your house has to offer such as low electric bills, insulation that exceeds requirements, special paneling or extensive attic space, and leave when prospective buyers come. Simply put, too many people distract.

A professional Realtor® will lead prospects on a guided tour that emphasizes the best aspects of the property. Pets, children, radios, televisions and washing machines should not be included in this process.

Preparing your home for showing
When selling your home, appearance can be the single most important thing that attracts a buyer. Many needed improvements and repairs can add to the value of your home. Here are a few tips to help you maximize your home's value:

• Keep your house and garage tidy.
• Repair sticking doors or windows.
• Decorate faded walls and touch-up worn woodwork.
• Replace cracked windows, door windows and torn screens.
• Clean and sanitize carpets and rugs.
• Replace worn carpeting and rugs.
• Repair broken switches and light bulbs.
• Wash or paint exterior, if necessary.
• Repair leaky plumbing.
• Abolish objectionable odors.
• Keep pets out of sight and under control.
• Keep television and radio volumes low or off.
• Never apologize for appearance.
• Leave showing entirely to your agent.
• Make sure your lawn and other landscaping is neatly trimmed or mowed.
• Make certain your yard is clean of refuse and leaves.
• Open the drapes and curtains. Clean the windows. Dark rooms do not appeal to most buyers.
• Have your closets clean and organized, so they look as spacious as possible.
• Repair or replace discolored or damaged caulking around bathtubs and showers.
• Give the real estate agent associate a key for use when you're not there. Remember a missed showing can result in a missed sale!