For most people, their home is their biggest asset. If you hope to protect - and capitalize on - your investment, the sale must be handled with care. This guide was written with one goal in mind: to give you the tools you need to maximize your profit, maintain control, and reduce the stress that comes with the home-selling process.

1. KNOW WHY YOU'RE SELLING Look closely at why you want to sell.

Your motivations play an important role in the process. They affect everything from setting a price to deciding how much time and money you'll invest getting your home ready for selling.

2. ONCE YOU KNOW, KEEP IT TO YOURSELF

Your reasons will affect how you negotiate the sale of your home, but they shouldn't be given as ammunition to the person who wants to buy it. For example, a prospective buyer who knows you must move quickly has you at their mercy in the negotiotion process. When asked, simply say that your housing needs have changed. Your reasons are nobody's business but your own.

3. DO YOUR HOMEWORK BEFORE SETTING A PRICE