Special Report: Home Sweet Home

She shuttles buyers around in a London taxi - she watches the real estate market like a shrewd money manager watches the stock market - and she admits, buying or selling a home is very emotional.

Lillian Montalto, Owner, Signature Properties
"Don't fight it."

She's Lillian Montalto , owner of Signature Properties in Andover. Last year, she sold more than $197 million dollars worth of real estate, making her the number 3 agent in the country.

Lillian Montalto, Owner, Signature Properties
"There's a lot of inventory out there, there's a lot of overpriced inventory out there."

When it comes to selling a home in this market - she lists one thing above all others.

Lillian Montalto, Owner, Signature Properties
"It's all about price. It all boils down to price. If you're just a little bit above the market, people will go on to the next property, they're not even sometimes making offers."

Here's how Lillian sees it - once a house comes on the market - every buyer wants to see the "new kid on the block", and time is of the essence.

Lillian Montalto, Owner, Signature Properties
"The first two weeks you're on the market is the most critical time."

That's when you're more likely to receive multiple offers.

Lillian Montalto, Owner, Signature Properties
"It's the best thing that could happen to a seller because it's going to cause the price to be bid up."

If a house isn't sold after a month

Lillian Montalto, Owner, Signature Properties
"People start to think there's something wrong with it:

That's why it's important to make sure the price is right from the start. Which might be difficult for sellers to hear.

Lillian Montalto, Owner, Signature Properties
"I tell them what they need to hear, not what they want to hear, because that's what they've hired me for."

Making a house presentable is another specialty. Lillian recommends painting walls a neutral color. To update kitchens, new granite countertops work wonders.

Lillian Montalto, Owner, Signature Properties
"The granite has really enhanced the cabinetry."

She also recommends getting the home inspected before putting it on the market, so there are no surprises later on.

Lillian Montalto, Owner, Signature Properties
"OK, Mary Jo, this is a typical in-town location."

For buyers, Lillian says it's all about emotion, so trust your feelings.

Lillian Montalto, Owner, Signature Properties
"When you walk into the right property, you will know it immediately, sometimes you just need to step over the threshold, you will know this is home."

That's the feeling Mary Jo Krol of Metheun got when she walked into this Andover home - priced at $1.1 million.

Mary Jo Krol, Homebuyer
"I think it's absolutely beautiful. I'll have to go home and talk to my husband about this, but I'd like him to come back to get his opinion. I don't see why not."

Lillian says, even it's the first home you step foot in - don't hesitate.

Lillian Montalto, Owner, Signature Properties
"Don't try and think, I haven't seen enough properties, because you may go off, continue to look at properties, somebody else buys that property, and you may not get that feeling for another 50 properties."

The last bit of advice - whether buying or selling - Lillian says to research your agent's track record like you would your surgeon's. Make sure they work in real estate full-time, so you can leave the driving to them.

One side note about the Andover home in the story - there were 4 offers made on it, and it sold for more than the million dollar asking price.