Selling a house can be one of the largest financial transactions you’ll ever undertake, and many factors can impact its smooth and quick progress. There are certain steps that are within your control such as prepping your home for sale and hiring an experienced agent; according to HomeLight data, top 5% real estate agents sell homes up to 10% faster than average agents.
Real estate markets can be complex and ever-evolving, yet a good agent will help you navigate them with ease. He or she should possess extensive knowledge about local sales activity, supply/demand trends, economic considerations and economic projections – this will allow you to set a more reasonable asking price while making your property more desirable to buyers.
Your agent will also help you prepare your home for sale by suggesting repairs and upgrades that will add value and appeal to buyers, and providing advice on staging it to create maximum impact. They’ll take into account its location as well as buyer pool; for example if it’s located in an upscale neighborhood cosmetic improvements may be required to attract this particular demographic.
Once your property listing is active, your agent will work tirelessly to promote it through traditional techniques like open houses and print ads as well as newer methods like social media platforms. An adept real estate agent will also leverage other agents to promote it further and connect you with potential buyers.
As soon as it’s time for offers, your agent will assist in the negotiation process. They’ll assess competition and advise whether to accept or decline each offer, explaining both pros and cons of each option available to you. They can also explain all terms of a contract such as term length, seller exclusivity representation compensation property description description termination rights etc.
After negotiations are complete, your agent will handle all the paperwork and closing details. Although this can be an arduous task, they’ll ensure it runs as smoothly and seamlessly as possible – including scheduling home inspection and appraisal appointments and attending walkthroughs to answer questions and address concerns with ease.
If you need to sell quickly, your agent can suggest alternative selling methods such as iBuyers that can allow you to avoid an extended and drawn out sale and close on your new home in as little as three weeks.
As you interview agents, be mindful of their experience and specialization. Work experience alone doesn’t guarantee expertise, but can give an indication of a representative’s skill level and understanding of the market. Inquire into their communication style – prefer they telephone, email, text messages or personal visits? How long is their response time usually for inquiries?