WHAT SHOULD YOU EXPECT FROM A REAL ESTATE AGENT WHEN SELLING?
If you hire a real estate agent to sell your home, you’re paying a high commission, so you probably wonder what he/she will do for you.
While real estate agents do the obvious – sell your home, there is a lot more they do behind the scenes that you should be aware of. No two agents provide the same services, though, so always ask what an agent offers before signing a contract to make sure they will fulfill your needs.
Here’s what you can expect from most real estate agents.
Consult to Help you Increase your Home’s Value
An experienced real estate agent can walk through your home and tell you what needs to change. If an agent sees things that will hurt your home’s value, he/she should suggest the necessary changes. You aren’t obligated to make the changes, but if you want the higher asking price, it may be worth it.
Most real estate agents have a network of professionals they can recommend too so that you get the job done quickly and at affordable prices.
Staging your Home to Sell
Some real estate agents offer staging services too. Real estate agents know what buyers want and what turns them off. The right agent should help you stage your home so that it’s attractive right from the start.
Remember, you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. Your real estate agent may ask you to declutter, move furniture, and even take personal items off shelves and walls to help buyers visualize their belongings in your home.
Pricing your Home
You may have an idea of how much you want for your house, but that doesn’t mean the market will agree. An experienced real estate agent will help you price your house so that it sells. It may not be for the price you assumed you’d get, but real estate agents want to sell your home for top dollar too, so they won’t sell you short.
The price you can ask for your house is dependent on the market values. An appraiser will look at recently sold homes in the area and compare their prices to the price you’re asking. If you ask too much, the lender may not approve the loan to buy it because the home is valued higher than others in the area, but a real estate agent should know the ‘sweet spot.’
Taking Professional Pictures
Your real estate agent will either take pictures of your home for you or have a professional he/she works with take them. Next to the price, the pictures are the next most important factor when selling your home.
Today especially, most buyers look online at homes and form opinions about whether they will go see it. If your pictures aren’t high quality and don’t highlight your home’s features, you’ll have fewer buyers walking through than you’d like.
A real estate agent that includes professional pictures and video tours of your home will help your home sell faster.
Advertising your Home
Creating the listing and advertising your home are the two most important factors when trying to sell your home. You could have the best listing out there, but if your agent doesn’t advertise for you, no one will see it.
Besides sticking a ‘for sale’ sign in your yard, agents may do some or all of the following to advertise your home:
- Deliver flyers
- Create an online listing
- Submit the listing to listing services
- Network with other agents, so they show their buyers
- Email your home’s details to clients who showed interest in similar homes
Helping with the Bidding Process
Bidding on a home can be overwhelming. Not only do you have to bid the price a seller wants, but you also must offer the terms that are acceptable to the seller. A few factors they consider include:
- Closing date
- Items staying in the home
- Closing credits
- Contract contingencies
Sellers look at more than just the price you offer. They look at the big picture. For example, if you propose a closing date 60 days from now and someone else comes in with a lower bid but will close in 30 days, the seller may choose the buyer who will close in 30 days.
There can be a lot of back and forth, deal-making, and stress, but your real estate agent will handle the process for you.
Closing the Sale
The final step is closing the sale, and your real estate agent will be with you every step of the way. Your agent will help you with the paperwork, help you understand any legalities and paperwork or documents you must provide, and guide you through the last bit of the process.
Knowing you have a real estate agent by your side can be reassuring as you receive phone calls, requests, and have to make big decisions about selling your home.
Final Thoughts
Selling your home with a real estate agent may cost money, but it’s often worth its weight in gold. Real estate agents can help you get more money for your home, sell it faster, and get you through the tricky closing process.
Knowing you have a professional by your side can reassure you as you sell your home. There’s no doubt that selling your home is emotional and sometimes you can make irrational decisions. Your agent can be your neutral third party guiding you through the process, ensuring everything goes off without a hitch.
Contact us for a no-obligation conversation. Valley Mortgage is the largest independent mortgage lender in North Dakota and northern Minnesota. We’ve been helping folks like you for more than 38 years. If you haven’t reviewed our website, click here. Please call us at 701-461-8450 to get all the details about home mortgages and refinancing. There’s no cost, no obligation. Valley Mortgage does all the processing right here in our Fargo, ND office.