With the down sizing in the United States national economy, it has not been easy to be the seller in a buyer's market. All the same, you can improve your performance through research and using a knowledgeable Realtor and/ or other professional in the construction industry. The following suggestions may help you in taking a decision on whether to sell or not.

1. Recognizing that housing markets are local.
Prices and values of properties vary from one geographical zone/ area to the other. Prices are like the weather. They are very different in different areas.

2. Analyzing who is buying and selling in your local zonal market.
What's your competition? Who are the buyers, and why are they scouting for real estate: is it for self-occupying, investment, or what?

3. Asking the professionals.
Don't ignore the professionals - real estate agents. Ask them about the market conditions for your area and price range.

4. Finding out the value or the worth of your home. Engage in coversation with a handful of local agents/ realtors. They will give you FREE Complementary Market Analysis(CMA) of your area. If necessary, obtain a detailed appraisal of your home through a certified professional appraiser.

5. Strategic Pricing.
Here is how it works: If prices in your area are dropping 1% each month, and you want to sell within the next three months, you may want to take 3% off your price. So if you were going to put your home on the market for $300,000, you set the price at roughly $291,000.

The Upside: With reduction by 3% you will have the competitive edge over the person who drops his/her price every month, without the air of desperation. In a competitive market where prices are falling, you will make more money if you sell quickly.

The Downside: To predict the market situation is a tough one, even for the professionals. It is also really difficult to increase the price of your home just because the market situation in your area starts to rebound.

6. Rebating your "commission."
If you're selling it yourself and need to move quickly, consider subtracting half of what would have been the commission from the sale price, says Healy. The standard commission is about 6%, so if you subtract 3%, your $300,000 house would go on the market for $291,000, he says.

Listing a home for "$9,000 to $10,000 under that value should create higher interest," especially if it's new to the market, says Healy.
The Downside: If your home doesn't sell and you end up hiring an real estate agent, you'll need to cover the commission. This implies that you have to raise your sale price or take a smaller profit.

7. Evaluating whether you really have to sell now.
If you want to get the best possible price for your home and the local market is tanking, "see if you can delay the sale," says Poorvu. He further opined that, in a lot of markets, sellers have "to be willing to accept a pretty good haircut over what they thought their home was worth last year," he says.

The Downside of Waiting: The market could decline or your circumstances could change to the point that you might need to sell quickly.

Other Reasonable Option: Rent or lease out the property until your local market situation improves;
not withstanding whetjer you've already placed "For Sale" sign on the property or because you've listed it in your local newspaper. Do you know that you have the absolute right to change your mind if your personal aim for selling it is non-feasible? Yes, you have!

"If you know there are no sales or sales are decreasing, and you have the opportunity," taking it off the market is a decent solution, says Healy. "I think we're seeing a lot of that."

8. Assessing Current market Trend.
In a situation where you want to sell one house and buy another, look at the market where you plan to move. Says Poorvu, "It might be that, with the housing there, it's a great time to buy."

9. Testing Market Through Free Classified Ads.
It is no doubt that placing an ad in most mass media is on the high side. Placing FREE advertisements in FREE Classified Ads websites like www.HomePro1.com will help you to assess the market situations. It is necessary to include means of communication within - especially Telephone number and Email address.