Editorial Standards

Every guide, checklist, and definition on MyHomeSale is written against the standards below. If you find something that falls short, tell us at [email protected] — corrections make the library better for everyone.

Accuracy over precision-theater

Real-estate practices vary enormously by state, market, and year. Where a number is genuinely variable, we give a range and say so — commissions "commonly run around 5–6% combined," not a fabricated exact figure. We don't invent statistics, cite studies we haven't read, or present illustrative examples as data. When we use a worked example, we label it as one.

Plain language

A first-time seller should be able to read any guide without a dictionary. Jargon is defined the first time it appears and collected in the glossary. Sentences are short. If a concept needs a metaphor, it gets one.

Fair comparisons

When we compare options — agent vs. FSBO, traditional sale vs. cash offer — we compare them on a net basis with the trade-offs of each stated plainly. We have no stake in which path a reader chooses, and it shows: no option is vilified, and none is promoted.

Independence

We are not a brokerage, agent, lender, or buyer, and we don't accept payment to skew conclusions. If the site carries advertising or affiliate links, they're disclosed in the disclaimer and never determine what a guide recommends readers consider. Sponsored content, if we ever publish any, will be clearly labeled.

Boundaries

Educational information, not advice. We don't know your house, your loan, or your tax situation, so we write to help you understand your options and ask better questions — and we flag clearly when a decision deserves a licensed professional: an attorney, a tax professional, an appraiser, or an agent you've vetted yourself.

Maintenance

Guides carry an "updated" date and are reviewed as practices change — for example, shifts in how commissions are negotiated or how disclosure requirements evolve. Outdated guidance is corrected, not quietly left in place.

Corrections

Found an error? Email [email protected] with the page and the issue. Substantive corrections are made promptly and reflected in the guide's updated date.