DEAR BOB: I plan to sell my home. Should I stay in my home while trying to sell it? We could move into our new home and leave the one we are trying to sell vacant. Which scenario will help sell our home faster? --Dana P. DEAR DANA: Your listing real estate agent is in the best position to advise you whether to stay or move during the sales process.

Spring is the traditional peak sales season for houses and condos. Summer is also usually very good until the traditional August slump, especially for families who want to relocate before school starts. More prospective home buyers are in the market at this time of the year than during any other season.

First-time buyers typically have less money to spend on a home than more experienced property owners. If you're selling a smaller home, with one or two bedrooms and bathrooms, you may want to consider marketing your property as a starter home. To sell a starter home quickly, you'll have to balance affordability with attractiveness and utility. Starter homes tend to be less aesthetically pleasing, but a quick sale is possible if you can make up for it in other ways.

If you're a first-time home buyer, you've probably discovered that you have a lot to learn - and unfortunately, it's all too easy to get burned. But don't be discouraged. By doing some research, you can avoid common first-time buyer mistakes.

If you're thinking of purchasing a newly-constructed home, you should first consider a variety of important factors. Many home buyers want brand-new homes because they're energy-efficient and offer the opportunity to choose specific design features. However, without the proper research, you may find your new home doesn't measure up to the specifications you desired.

Once you've decided to sell your home, you will, of course, want to find a buyer and close the deal as quickly as possible. And the longer your home is on the market, the harder it becomes to find a buyer. A property that has been on the market for a few months might be seen as "stale" and this will make it even more difficult to sell. With that in mind, here are some tips for ensuring a quick sale.

All agents are bound by law to deal fairly and ethically with the both buyer and seller. Because the seller usually hires estate agent, the agent's legal obligation is to the seller. It's up to you to make offers and accept counter offers. So be on you toes.

You should always price your home correctly so that it sells. This means you should price it within the market range - because you want the fastest possible sale at the highest possible price. This is known as priced to sell.

The cancelling attorney who acts on our behalf will charge a fee. If you have a fixed or capped interest rate option loaded to your account, then an additional finance charge is payable. You are required to give us at least 90 days' written notice of your intention to settle your home loan. Should you not give us the required notice we are entitled to charge 90 days’ interest in lieu of notice.* If you take out a new Standard Bank home loan and it is registered within six months of the cancellation of your previous bond, the early termination interest will be credited to your new home loan account.

You send us instructions to cancel your home loan Our home loans department must receive a written request from you, your bank branch or attorney to cancel your home loan. Complete exact cancellation figures We advise your attorney to attend to the cancellation of the outstanding capital amount and interest, plus any other costs that are required to settle the account.