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General definitions of market value usually say that it is the price a home should sell for when it has been on the market for anywhere from three weeks to two months.

However, if you want top dollar for your home, experience shows that you should try to get and accept a solid offer sometime during the third to fifth weeks that it's on the market. It is during this three-week "window" that your home will enjoy maximum market exposure and buyer interest.

Beyond five weeks your home will increasingly be viewed as a "stale" listing -- i.e. as a commodity with a history of being rejected by other buyers. Consequently, there will be less interest, less showings, less offers and less likelihood that you'll get your asking price.

This is why it is crucial that your home be priced correctly during the three-week window.