So you think you want to sell your house; “NOW is the Time To Sell” the headlines claim. Where do you start? What do you do first? The FIRST thing ALL prospective sellers should do is to find an experienced, credible, Full Time, REALTOR®. Why Full Time? The sale/purchase of a house is usually the largest financial transaction of a person’s life. There is a significant amount of money involved, and even more potential liability if something is over-looked, forgotten, or omitted during the transaction. This is true for EVERY transaction. If the REALTOR® is “part time”, working only on weekends, or summers, is the amount of potential liability reduced? Does the part-timer only need to know some of the regulations, only use some of the most current forms, and only comply with some of the laws? No, No, and No. None of these factors are static, and in fact, changes occur on a regular basis as our culture, the economy, methodologies, and technologies evolve and advance. Will the part-timer take time away from the “real-job” to keep up on the aforementioned items? Hmm As a Full Time REALTOR®, it is a big commitment for me to keep up on everything while still providing my Clients with top notch service.
Additionally, Market Knowledge is important. Market Knowledge is not just what houses are selling for in a given geographic area, but it is also what buyers are looking for, what they want in a home. This is not something that can be researched on MLS. If I am not aware of what the market is doing, what buyers want in a home, I may have to invest more time before my client can consummate a transaction. Which may have the unintended consequence of a missed opportunity. The Seller may not find the best buyer, the Buyer may miss “the perfect house.”
The first reason it is important to consult a Full Time, experienced REALTOR® as soon as you are thinking about selling your house is that he/she will advise you what you need to do to prepare your house for sale. Whether it is de-cluttering, or updating the interior, minor yard work, or major landscaping on the exterior.
If a MAJOR de-cluttering is necessary you may want to put some of your belongings in storage and Gentry Moving & Storage is highly recommended. Accept the guidance of the Full Timer.
The second reason is that appropriate pricing is also necessary. Houses that are priced to the market sell the quickest and sometimes sell for over asking price. Would you feel more comfortable accepting the suggested listing price from someone who supports themselves and their family by selling houses, or from someone who does it in their “spare time”? Does this mean that Part-Timers shouldn’t be in the business? NO. However, if they are, they should probably have a mentor, or team-leader, who could review, or provide guidance for the benefit of the Consumer. Rely on the market knowledge of the Full Timer.
The third reason is marketing your home. There are many ways to market houses and houses at different price points, in different neighborhoods, with different demographics, may need to be marketed a little differently. Dos it make sense to use aerial photography so show a property from 200′ above if there is a cemetery nearby? No. It may if it has a large nicely landscaped yard, that would add value to the house because it highlights something that adds value
The fourth reason is an experienced REALTOR® will be able to explain how the transaction will proceed. What the Seller should expect from Listing, to Offer negotiation, to Inspection, to Walk-through, and finally Closing. At which time it is highly recommended that the Seller use the services of an experienced real estate lawyer like Resnick and Caffrey.
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