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Test Your Knowledge: Selling Your Home

Smart strategies to guide you through the process


A real estate agent, guides a couple through the final steps of a home-selling process.
PHOTO CREDIT: GETTY IMAGES

2025 is proving to be a great real estate year – for sellers. So, if now’s the right time for you to downsize, it’s smart to study the basics of the home-selling process. What is and isn’t worth the investment when it comes to making your home more appealing to buyers? Are there ways to help your home sell faster? And what costs are you responsible for as the seller?

Take our quiz to brush up on your home-selling knowledge and learn the strategies that will help you come out ahead.

Question 1 of 5

When setting the sale price for your home, a real estate agent will take which of these into consideration?

Real estate agents have the training and experience-backed expertise to know your local market, the sale prices of different types of homes in your area, and what will help your home attract interest from potential buyers. These insights will be invaluable as you work to determine how to price your home.

Question 2 of 5

Which of the following won't make your house sell faster?

It’s wise to do whatever you can to ensure your home makes a good impression on buyers. Homes with welcoming curb appeal (a tidy front yard, cheerful plantings) stand out among others lacking exterior charm. Simple, attractive staging inside helps buyers imagine themselves in the spaces. And a sticker price that proves a home’s value, without being too out of reach, is also essential. What won’t help your case? When your home feels like a giant fix-it project.

Question 3 of 5

Which of the following are typically included in a home sale contract?

Your sale contract will include all the pertinent details related to the transaction, including sale price and terms, relevant dates, and any contingencies you or the buyer want or agree to have in place. It’s a lot to negotiate and fine-tune. A real estate agent can represent you through each piece, making sure you feel confident about the final contract.

Question 4 of 5

A contract is the final step in selling your home.

Even once you’re under contract, there are still several steps required to get across the home-selling finish line. The property will need to be appraised, multiple inspections need to be completed – such as electrical, roof, heating and cooling, and sewer – and the title of ownership must be transferred. A knowledgeable real estate agent can support you through all of this.

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Question 5 of 5

A professional real estate agent has the contacts and the marketing savvy to ensure your home gets broad exposure to the right group of prospective buyers.

A professional real estate agent has both the skills and tools to market your home to a wide audience for maximum exposure and to identify which potential buyers are worth taking seriously. Relying on their curated networks, an agent can take charge of advertising, open houses, and appointments. They can guide potential buyers through the home, answer questions, and screen applicants to get you the best possible offers.

You have unanswered questions. Please go back and complete those questions to finish the quiz.You have unanswered questions. Please go back and complete those questions to finish the quiz.

From knowing how to price and get your home ready to connecting with buyers navigating the many details of contracts and closing, there’s a lot to stay on top of when selling a home. A real estate agent is like your raft through the selling waters. They’ll help you keep your head up, steer you clear of rapids, and get you across to steady, prosperous ground.

Ready to sell your home? Take advantage of AARP® Real Estate Benefits by AnywhereTM. Sign up for a zero-obligation explanation of benefits and learn how you may be eligible for $300 - $7,200 in cash* benefits after closing.

Click here to calculate the cash benefit you could receive when selling a home using AARP Real Estate Benefits by Anywhere.
 

* The cash back bonus is offered in most states. In some states, a gift card or commission reduction at closing may be provided in lieu of the cash back bonus. The program is not available for employer-sponsored relocations or transactions in Iowa or outside the United States. The cash back bonus is not available in Alaska or Oklahoma. In Kansas and Tennessee, a MasterCard® MAX gift card will be issued. In Mississippi, New Jersey, and Oregon, a commission reduction may be available at closing. The cash back bonus is only available with the purchase and/or sale of your home through the use of a program-introduced real estate agent. The actual amount you receive is based on the purchase and/or sale price of your home. The program award is not available in certain transactions with restricted or reduced agent commissions (including many new construction, For Sale by Owner, or For Sale by iBuyer transactions or where the minimum transaction side commission is not paid). Your assigned agent or a real estate coordinator can help you identify any transactions where the award would not be available. All real estate commissions are negotiable. Participating program real estate agents are affiliated with the participating real estate brands: Coldwell Banker®, CENTURY 21®, ERA®, Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate, and Corcoran Group®. All related logos are trademarks owned or licensed by Anywhere Real Estate Services Group LLC or its affiliated companies.

All real estate commissions are negotiable. This is not a solicitation if you are already represented by a real estate broker. Please check with a program coordinator for details. Program terms and conditions are subject to change at any time without notice. Additional terms, conditions, and restrictions apply.

AARP commercial member benefits are provided by third parties, not by AARP or its affiliates. Anywhere pays royalty fees to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. AARP and its affiliates do not employ real estate agents and do not endorse the agents or brokerages made available by Anywhere. Neither AARP nor its affiliates are real estate brokers. Some provider offers are subject to change and may have restrictions. Please contact the provider directly for details. 

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