Real estate agents provide essential assistance for selling your home, from helping to determine an asking price to scheduling showings and fielding offers. Their services can quickly pay for themselves by saving time, increasing sale prices and avoiding mistakes that can delay the home selling process. Here are some tips that may help you select an agent who meets these criteria:
Ask for referrals from family and friends and compare online reviews before making your choice. An inside view into an agent’s work and personality could make or break your decision.
Locating an agent familiar with your home’s area is of utmost importance in finding one who will accurately understand its market value, how best to advertise and promote it, and trends relating to property sales in that location – such as how long homes on the market stay active for sale in that particular locale.
When interviewing agents, be sure to inquire about their marketing plan and how it plans to reach potential buyers. Also ask what features of your home they plan to emphasize in the listing description and photos; an agent that can articulate their plan with confidence shows that they understand both what buyers seek in a home as well as your unique property’s specific features.
If your agent suggests making certain home improvements before listing it for sale, be wary. Certain repairs such as fixing a leaky roof will significantly increase its value; while others, such as remodeling an entire kitchen or bath may not justify their expense.
Buyers typically require sellers to cover closing costs, which can quickly add up. Be sure to ask your agent how much these fees will cost so that you can budget appropriately.
Your closing costs in New York typically include attorney and escrow fees of around 1% of the purchase price, along with lender’s title insurance premiums if financing your home purchase. Your agent should be able to inform you how much these fees will cost so that you can properly budget.
As part of the negotiation process, both parties typically engage in back-and-forth discussions that lead to counteroffers and revisions. Your real estate agent can help guide these negotiations by suggesting solutions that satisfy both parties while also helping negotiate seller concessions such as covering some or all of buyer closing costs or agreeing upon repairs.
To save on commission, be sure to choose an agent who belongs to the Clever Agent Network. Our free service connects you with top realtors who have pre-negotiated reduced commission rates – join today to discover how you can save big!