Successful participation in real estate negotiations is dependent on your complete understanding of local laws and the specific contents of every contract with which you are involved. You'll learn the fine points of deciphering a contract at prelicensing school. Once you're licensed, you'll hopefully get related training from a member of your real estate firm. Although technical negotiations are critical, it is every bit as important to support your clients emotionally and help make sure their path to closing is a smooth one.

One of the most stressful events of the transaction for both sellers and buyers is the home inspection. It's not unusual for everyone to be on edge until they hear the results, even if they think the house will breeze through with no problems. Try to get your sellers to relax. Let them know that if repair issues do occur, they can nearly always be handled so that all parties are happy with the outcome.

If there are serious problems with the house, they should certainly be disclosed to buyers before an offer is made. However, there are several things that buyers perceive as problems that truly aren't. Your sellers can keep the home from failing inspection by taking care of a few issues that always make buyers wonder if repairs are needed.

Be sure to remove all traces of mold and mildew inside and outside the house. Remove the source of dampness that allowed them to grow. Cover bare earth in crawl spaces and unfinished basements to place a barrier between the house and the earth. Exposed dirt is a source of moisture that can encourage insects and mold growth.

Water entering a basement often does so because of poor drainage, not because the foundation needs to be repaired. (Although, the foundation can become an issue over time if the poor drainage is not dealt with properly.) To improve drainage, clean the home's gutters and make sure downspouts are pointed away from the home's foundation, and that in-ground drainage avenues are clog free.

Another way to eliminate potential sources of moisture is to make sure that flashing around the base of chimneys is watertight and that the chimney's mortar and bricks are in good condition. Replace deteriorated shingles if possible.

Your sellers live in the house, so they are probably aware of little things that should be fixed. Make them aware that buyers nearly always question a home's overall condition when their inspection report contains a long list of items that need to be repaired. Handling a long list of little things early on will help them breeze through the inspection later.