Your home is where you’ve lived and loved, where you’ve laughed and cried, where you’ve huddled and snuggled. You’re the pea, your home is the pod. And you’ve been through a lot together.
Now that it’s time to put it on the market, you’re likely experiencing some sadness, plus plenty of anxiety. Because really: How often does your future depend on selling your past? If you’re a little overwhelmed, we don’t blame you. But there’s also good news: You don’t have to go it alone.
A REALTOR® has your back when it comes to the financials, like setting a listing price and marketing, staging, and making repairs to your house. A REALTOR® can also help you navigate more personal issues, such as your timeline, and what you’re hoping to achieve with the sale.
For all of those reasons, it’s important to find an expert who is right for you and your specific situation, and who can help you get what you want. Here’s how:
Know what a REALTOR® can do
Before you start interviewing prospective agents, have a clear sense of what you want to get out of the selling process. When so much money is on the table, it’s crucial to know what your goals are, so that you can find a REALTOR® who really speaks to them.
Then, it helps to understand what a REALTOR® does (other than sell your most valuable asset — no big deal). The REALTOR® will:
• Work with you to price your home
• Market your home (we’re talking pretty pictures, social media promo, cute staging — the works)
• Negotiate with home buyers
• Usher the home sale through inspection and closing
Pricing your home
This is the big question, right? How do I set the price? The short answer is you’ll need to trust your REALTOR® to recommend a smart listing price.
So how can you tell whether a REALTOR® — a relative stranger to you — is choosing the best price for your home? Ask your REALTOR® what your property is worth. Your REALTOR® is your local property expert and will provide you with up-to-date information on your market. Your REALTOR® has statistics and neighbourhood expertise to help you determine list price.
REALTORS® are experts when it comes to determining the market value range for your property. They have access to comparable sales data on the MLS® system and the Home Price Index (HPI). They will work with you to suggest an accurate list price.
Anyone could suggest a high price for your home, knowing it’s what you’d like to hear. But a professional REALTOR® doesn’t want your house to languish on the market for months and be forced to reduce its price repeatedly, so you can trust them.
Marketing your home
The REALTOR® will also get the word out that your house is on the market, using a combination of old-school (but powerful) marketing techniques — such as print, signage, and open houses — and modern and popular, though less personal methods, like MLS® and social media. Savvy agents will post pics of your house on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and any other platform — like winnipegregionalrealestatenews.com — that can get likes plus the attention of other real estate agents who can bring buyers to the table.
Negotiating with buyers
When offers start pouring in, your agent will negotiate with prospective buyers on not only the sale price but also on what contingencies (aka special circumstances) are attached to the contract. As with any negotiation, there could be some stressful, fraught moments with the buyers. You’ll want an agent who can step up for you, and who has a negotiation style that you’re comfortable with.
Closing the sale
Once you’ve signed a purchase agreement with a buyer (woo-hoo!), your agent will help you navigate the sale’s remaining steps. This includes negotiating home repair requests post inspection and dealing with any last-minute surprises before closing.
The average REALTOR® does all of the above. A great REALTOR® does all of the above, 410-+they’re representing you and your home in the best possible light.
This article was publishing in a previous issue of the Winnipeg Regional Real Estate News.
— Realtor.com