Housing needs change throughout our lives. At first, singles need a place to call their own. Then young families move to get more space for the kids. "First generation" retirees may want less to take care of and "second generation" retirees may need more support and services.

While home buyers are as individual as the homes they plan on purchasing, one thing they share is a desire to ensure that the home they will call their own is as good beneath the surface as it appears to be. Will the roof end up leaking? Is the wiring safe? What about the plumbing? Dozens of your home's physical features will come under scrutiny during a home inspection when your home is for sale.

Selling a home is one of the most important personal and financial moves many of us will ever make. There are nine simple steps that will help you maximize your profit, maintain control, and reduce the stress that comes with the home selling process.

Not all real estate agents are the same. Picking the right agent can cost or save you thousands of dollars.

One way you can tell if your agent can get you the best price for your home is to find out how close is the selling price of her listings to the asking price? You can get this information from the Real Estate Board. Is her performance higher or lower than the board average?

Most homeowners want to maximize the return on their investment when they sell. Many invest in expensive updates or repairs. But you don't have to spend a lot to improve the impression your home will make on buyers.

There's no doubt that price is your most important sales tool. Why? Because the first four weeks on the market is the time of best opportunity for selling your home. Buyers who have seen all the existing listings are looking for more homes to come on the market. If your price is too low, you'll get a lot of lookers and maybe many offers, but you'll sell for less than you could have. If your price is too high, fewer buyers will be interested in or have the means to buy.

So how should you set your home's selling price? There are a few things you can do to prepare for this important discussion with your listing agent.