Congratulations! You've finally made the decision to sell your home or condo.  You've spent hours cleaning and preparing, discarding old clutter, re-arranging that aban ­doned closet, trimmed your bougainvillea, and replanted your banana and papaya trees.  You've gone to Dolly Madison, Home Centre, Kelly's and Furniture Outlet and put new paint and have given your home a total face lift. Your bathroom is clean and sparkling, and a fresh bouquet of flowers is sitting on the dining room table.

Now comes the tricky part: allowing complete strangers to walk through your home. This is the time when the serv ­ices of a trustworthy, reliable real estate broker are essential. Although you may be tempted to be present when a realtor shows your home, the best advice a real estate professional can offer to you is to GET LOST!!!! WALK OUT THE DOOR relax, read The Freeport News, visit a friend, grab a cup of cof ­fee and let your real estate agent present your home to its best possible advantage.

People are naturally sensitive when they are a guest in some ­one's home and will be reluctant to voice their concerns if you are there. An inhibited buyer is not an active buyer! Your Real Estate Agent should be familiar with your home and should be ready to answer any questions an inter ­ested party may have without making them feel uncomfortable.

A good Real Estate Agent has the experience to help potential buyers ask their questions and respond to them with reassur ­ance. In the buyer's mind your very presence keeps the home your home and makes it more difficult for them to visualize the home as theirs. With a clean, airy, open resi ­dence, they can more easily imagine how it would feel to be enjoying the house as much as you do.

In addition, homeowners sell ing their house (especially for the first time) often appear a bit nervous, and naturally so. Your innocent defense of the purple paint in the guest room makes sense' to you, but may chill the feet of an interested party.  Don't take other people's preferences personally. Every ­one has his or her own taste. What you want is a sale. Moreover, the buyer might inter­pret your anxiety as a need to sell, which could result in lower bids and counter-offers.

The purchase of a home is a formidable undertaking. Most people require a significant amount of time in a house they are seriously considering and may wish to visit again and again. The concern you may experi ­ence as a seller is just as real for the buyer. Prospective clients may need the opportunity to scrutinize and analyze your home freely. You must grant them the space to do so. This allows them to overcome their anxiety and go through the purchasing process with  a happy and clear mind.

People are usually more will ­ing to speak candidly with the real estate agent than they are with the seller directly. You may be able to profit from the observations of others. After a showing, ask your Realtor for a follow-up report. An accomplished agent will be able to process the feedback from prospective buyers con ­structively and let you know if any changes need to be made. Don't be afraid to hear every ­thing and be open to suggestions.