When it’s time to sell your house, it’s time to hire an agent. Many people think that all agents are the same or will just pick the agent that wants to list at the highest price. Finding the right agent is priceless. A good agent will work hard for you, be available to you and get your home sold. Here are some things you should know before you start searching to find the agent that’s right for you.
Pricing – If you’re a smart seller you’ve looked at the market yourself. Beware, that doesn’t mean that you know what your house is worth or what it should be listed at. You have an emotional investment that makes you impartial. You also don’t know how trustworthy the sources that you are reviewing are. Zillow has become an industry juggernaut. While their home pricing estimates, known as “Zestimates,” aim to inform buyers and sellers, they’ve been proven to be off by a whopping amount—somewhere between the 8% Zillow claims and upwards of 20%, 40%, even 61% depending on the house and the location, according to a recent L.A. Times report. While you need to make an educated decision, the real estate agents are professionals who have been doing this for a long time and an invaluable resource that can provide you a much more realistic idea of where you should list.
Ethics – If you are going to sell your house with an agent you need to be one the same page. Be open and honest with them and expect the same treatment back. While it’s hard to know ahead of time who is being honest, you can get a good sense at the interview. Some agents “buy listings.” This means that they offer to list your home at a much higher price than it’s true value in order to get you to sign with them with the intent of lowering the price later. Be sure you disclose all appropriate information and find out what to expect from your agent as far as staging, marketing and planning.
Work – You may be thinking that your home is perfect. Expect to have to do some work. There’s staging and cleaning for pictures and showings. You may have to do some repairs depending on what’s found in the home inspection. Be prepared to have to make some changes. Your agent will also be doing a lot of work, if you’ve hired a good one. Be sure to ask where they will be listing your home, what type of marketing they will be doing, and what you can expect. Make sure your agent has a plan and experience in your local neighborhood.
Trust – Be sure you find an agent you can trust. If your agent has proven experience then their advise is invaluable. Be sure to heed their advise and not hinder with what you think is best. You’ll want to find a great balance between offer your opinions and letting your agent do what they do best. You know your home best, so you will want to provide information, but your agent knows how to sell houses.
Finding a good agent is one of the most important decisions you can make when selling your home. Take time to make sure you find the best agent for you. The last thing you want is to be stuck in a contract with an agent who isn’t going to get you sold. Find out why Helen is the right agent for you. Call her today at 847.967.0022 or email [email protected].