Selling your home

Selling your home
It’s time to move on…
Whether you’re making a job change, retiring, need a bigger house, or just need a change of scenery, you want to get the most money for your house, with the right terms and in the shortest amount of time possible. You may think selling a home is easy, but ask yourself this … How many houses did you look at before you bought the one you now own? How many other people do you suppose went through those same homes before a buyer was found? You may think that the first person who walks through your door will fall in love with your place, but perhaps you need to take a step back and find yourself a professional realtor. A good realtor can save you money and help you get more for your home than you can by selling it yourself. After all, that is what they are trained to do.

Your home is one of the most valuable possessions you will ever sell. It requires skill, experience, and understanding of the current market for a licensed real estate professional to represent you. His/her expertise and access to marketing tools can maximize your return.

Pricing
One of the first things your realtor will do is help you price your home effectively. Sometimes sellers mistakenly price their house higher, knowing that they can lower the price if it doesn’t sell. This can often backfire on the sellers. Buyers often shop around before they buy and often recognize value in a specific price range because of this comparison shopping.

Using the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), the realtor will prepare a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) which involves a survey of homes that are on the market, or have recently sold, that are similar to yours. Your realtor will then advise you on the additional value (or deficit) of your home’s unique features, and factor that into the equation. Depending upon how anxions you are to sell (and how quickly you need to close), your realtor can suggest different strategies to help you get top dollar for your home.

Once you sign a Listing Agreement, your realtor will develop a comprehensive marketing plan. But first, your realtor will take a look at your home and may suggest ways to make it show better. Remember what you looked for when you bought the house? Take a look at the checklist on the next few pages to get a better idea of how you should look at your home through the “eyes of a buyer. ”

Your realtor will put your home on the MLS so other agents will become aware of your property. Your realtor will also network with other agents, conduct open houses, and suggest ways to stimulate activity. Advertising is vital. Your realtor may also recommend incentives such as assistance with closing costs or paying for the home warranty. This may give the buyer the incentive to offer more or close more quickly.

Comparative Pricing
Value is a relative term. One owner’s quaint little cottage may be another’s airless old money pit. Obvi­ously then, you need some basis of objectivity – and you can find it by having your realtor rate your house against other similar houses in like neighborhoods. You can count on your realtor to be frank if your asking price is too high. Your realtor will work together with you to factor in all the impor-tant aspects of your home.