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Not everyone chooses to use an estate agent when selling their home, and an increasing number of homeowners are selling their houses themselves. While this method presents a number of financial benefits, the time constraints and selling know-how of the homeowner can result in a lengthy sale process. Estate agents can be costly but their inside knowledge and experience with selling homes can prove to be a great tool. If you decide to sell your home on your own there are a number of tips that you will need to take into account to make the process as smooth as possible.

Determining the price that you can achieve when selling your house is essential before marketing the property. A formal valuation will come with a fee attached but many estate agents will come to the house and provide a valuation for free.

The price will take into account the area, condition of the house and also any extras that you may wish to include in the sale such as carpets or appliances, these are generally referred to as 'fittings'. Some buyers may like the included fittings but others will prefer a blank canvas.

There are a number of items that are assumed to be including in any house sale unless it is specifically made clear to the buyer. Items such as built-in fireplaces, central heating systems and showers are considered to be 'fixtures' and must be included in a sale unless otherwise specified. If possible prepare a list of items that are to be included in the sale and items that aren't and provide this information if requested by the buyer.

When it comes to negotiating a deal, most buyers will offer less than what the asking price is. Estate agents combat this by increasing the price during marketing, and this is exactly what should be done if you decide to sell a house yourself. Leaving room for negotiation means that you still get value for your property when reducing the price.

Find out more about ways to sell my house quickly.