The more information you have at your disposal, the better you can calculate the value of your own home, and it's important that you put your property on the market at the right price, he says.

"Selling a home is understandably an emotional experience, and it's vital that you price your home correctly, particularly in today's market which has quietened to some degree, and where buyers are not simply queuing up to buy. Also, today's buyers are generally more informed and do their homework ? some even for as long as six months to a year before buying. Selling a property is a process, and price counselling from an experienced and responsible agent from a reputable agency is key," says Dr Golding.

Ronald Ennik, chief operating officer of Pam Golding Properties and MD of the company's Gauteng operation, says: "Generally, a home sells within 45 days ? but you need to have a strategy rather than a shotgun approach."

Be smart, not shy

"There is no harm in going for an optimal price ? every home is unique, in a different location and with different attributes, and it should sell after the market has been exposed to it, but this does not mean you should ask for an unrealistic price. Be flexible in order to recognise when the right price comes along. On the other hand, if it sells in a week, ask yourself, did you get the right price for it?

"If you are well informed, you can leverage off that and are more inclined to achieve the right price for your home. If you build a relationship with an agent, and if you award him/her a sole mandate on the property, that agent is answerable to you and will provide you with much more information, and is also contractually obliged to do their utmost to market and sell your home in the allotted time frame.

If you list your property with 10 different agents, you will receive a jumble of mixed signals back from them. They will be busy competing among themselves. Competition is healthy, but it must be between buyers and not between estate agents.

Some agents will tell you what you want to hear while others will be trying to bring your price down. It is not true that the more agents work on the property, the sooner they will achieve a good price for the house ? in fact the reverse is often true, as no agent likes to spend time and money on a property he/she might not sell.

"A sole agent will often obtain a higher price by allowing buyers to compete on the property. A sole mandate also secures you a better marketing plan, a concentrated effort, wider coverage, a much greater level of commitment and prevents problems regarding double commission claims when the same buyer is introduced to your home twice, by different agents," says Ennik.

First weeks are critical

He says it is also critical from a seller's perspective, that from the second to twelfth week after the property is put on the market, that the bulk of buyers on the market ? in that price range, in that area, and at that time ? become aware of the property, and view it over this period.

"During this critical time frame it's vital that they see the property positioned at the right price. If not, and the period is extended beyond week 12, then you are aiming at a 'much reduced quantity' of interested buyers, and then only if you drop the price. Bear in mind also that you have now lost those buyers from the first batch or time frame, and you cannot get them back. The home is old news.

Understand your area

From a buyer's perspective, Ennik comments: "Before making a purchasing decision, buyers are encouraged to look at a minimum of 20 properties in an area and to try to become as informed about the local property market as possible. Sellers' understanding of the market is generally based on their perceptions from what they read in the press, what they have added on for improvements and also added for annual price increases.

As a result, the way they calculate their selling price is usually a very rough estimate and may well be as much as 10-20 percent out of line. Buyers also need a strategy, as some sellers are asking unrealistic selling prices. Don't act on a whim ? know what's going on in the marketplace."

Adds Dr Golding: "The best way to research the market when buying a home is to explore the market thoroughly and set time aside to visit properties on show days. When houses sell, visit agents and take note of the selling prices achieved in the area and try to glean from the agent as much market-related information as possible. In this way, you will be well informed when making the decision to purchase your own home."