It is always a good idea to use the services of a good real estate agent when selling your home. However, there are still some things you need to be careful about when approaching a real estate agent.
Here are 7 tips to help you avoid these common mistakes when selling your house through a real estate agent.
Complete your home paperwork:
You should first make sure that your home has the necessary paperwork ready before contacting the agent. This includes a title search, verification, and any other required documentation such as appraisals and inspections. Without this information, the agent will not know what they can help you with. When you find out they have questions for you, it is best to prepare for them ahead of time so you do not waste time. It may also be beneficial for you to obtain an appraisal on your house to make sure you are asking for the right price.
Be sure to get a face to face interview:
When contacting the agents, be sure to get a face-to-face interview. This is where you will get into a face-to-face meeting to talk about your home and see if they feel that you are someone they can trust. If you can meet with the agent before you do any other research or preparing for your home. This way, you can make sure you know what to expect from that meeting and can eliminate a lot of hassles later on.
Be sure to respond in a timely manner
It is also a good idea to follow up after you have made an offer on your home with photos, videos, and any other announcements that you think might help sell your home. A good realtor will be willing to send you updates and any additional information that is helpful. Be sure to respond in a timely manner and follow up right away. You will have no regrets if you send a few follow-ups to ensure that they are looking forward to speaking with you.
Be sure to keep your online connections
The Internet has become a valuable tool when it comes to real estate. Be sure to take advantage of this as much as possible. Not only will you have more information available, but it will also be available at all times. Be careful not to spend too much time online as you will end up becoming overloaded and lose some valuable real estate hours. Just be sure to keep your online connections active and to look for sales and new listings periodically.
Be sure to stay on top of new listings
As with anything else, location is everything. Real estate agents are talented in their field and will try their best to find homes that will fit your specific needs. Do not allow yourself to get stuck in a particular neighborhood because you are unable to move. If selling in an area where there are a high number of foreclosures, be sure to stay on top of new listings. In addition, if you live in a home that is currently on the market, consider calling the listing agent to see how much they are going to charge for the home.
Post your advertisements in the local paper
Keep track of the times that you advertise for a home. Some people make the mistake of advertising on real estate forums or putting flyers in mailboxes. This is a very bad idea. When selling real estate, it is always best to post your advertisements on local paper as well as posting them online.
Be sure to follow your state law
If you have any financial obligations, be sure to let the seller know before the closing of escrow. It never hurts to set up a small stipulated amount of money for any unexpected expenses.
Finally, be sure to follow your state law. Many times real estate transactions will go through a series of legal steps before they are finalized. Any purchase agreement that is signed must be done in the presence of a lawyer.
