If you are considering selling your home or you’re in the process of doing so, there are certain things you can do to help make your home more appealing to homebuyers out there. Here are the top three things that homebuyers are looking for when buying a home:1. Curb appeal. When a buyer views your home online or in person, the first thing they will see is its curb appeal, or how it looks from the outside. Pay special attention to the paint, the shutters, shrubbery, and sidewalks. Make sure your home looks as good as it possibly can from the outside so you make a great first impression.
2. Show off your space. A majority of buyers move because they need more space, so try to clear out as much as you can from your home before listing so you can maximize your space. Don’t keep things cluttered with personal items, photographs, and trinkets.
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Buyers love updated homes.
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3. Updates. Buyers love updated homes. There are plenty of simple things you can do in the kitchen and the bathroom to impress them. Update as much as you can within your budget before your home goes “live” on the market.
These are just three quick things you can do as a seller to not only speed up your sale, but maximize its price as well. If you’re in the Triangle area or you have any questions for us, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email. We would love to hear from you.
How do you know that the agents you’re interviewing have the experience and expertise to sell your home quickly and for top dollar? I’ve compiled a list of questions to ask that will help you make the best decision.
When looking to sell your home, the first step is finding an agent that will do the job well. I’ve compiled a list of questions you should remember to ask when interviewing agents so that you can make a better decision about who to go with:
1. How much experience do they have? You cannot replace experience—you can only gain it. Make sure you ask them how much experience they have in the business.
2. How many homes have they sold this year? How many homes have they sold in their entire career? This goes a long way to determining how successful they will be in selling your own home.
3. What is their list-to-sales ratio? You’re looking for a ratio that is very close. For example, you want to see a sales history where homes list at $1 million but sell for $999,000. The more of a distance between the list price and the sales price, the worse the ratio.
4. What is their average days on market? How long does it take to sell? The quicker the home sells, the better.
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You cannot replace experience—you can only gain it.
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5. Do they work with a team or individually? In this market, agents who work with teams are often the better choice because of the level of specialization among their members. Be sure to ask, “Do you have a team; if so, may we see it?”
6. Do they have any reviews? Look online for reviews and check out how they are positioned in the market. Are they ranked in your area? If not, why aren’t they?
7. What are their marketing strategies? Marketing is the key word. You don’t want an agent who does the “Three P’s:” put the sign in the yard, put it on the MLS, and pray. That is not a good marketing strategy and won’t get you top dollar for your home.
8. What are their marketing plan and budget? You can’t market to home if you don’t have the money to market it. Make sure that any agents you’re interviewing can share their strategy and budget for marketing your home.
If you have any questions regarding this or any other real estate topic, please don’t hesitate to reach out. We’d be happy to help!
If you are thinking about selling your home, you may also be considering working with a discount brokerage. Before you decide to hire that discount brokerage, there are a few things you should know in order to make the best possible decision for your home sale.
1. How much does it actually cost? Many people believe that working with a discount brokerage means that you will pay a flat fee. While that may be true, there will probably be a note in the small print requiring you to pay the additional buyer agent fee. Make sure you add those two numbers up together; many times, you may have been able to utilize a full brokerage service after all.
2. What do you get for that money? Some sellers who have hired discount brokerages in the past find that, although their house is on the MLS, they do not get any additional marketing from the discount brokerage.
3. What type of communication will you receive when you work with a discount brokerage firm? In the world of real estate, communication is key. However, most sellers who’ve worked with discount brokers have shared that they didn’t get much communication at all.
4. What kind of negotiation support will you get? When it comes to negotiating your sales price, you want to make sure you work with a good negotiator. You aren’t guaranteed that type of service with a discount brokerage.
5. Will they share liability? When it comes to selling your home, there is a lot at stake in terms of liability. When you work with a full-service brokerage, you will share that liability. If you work with a discount brokerage, you are the only one who’s liable.
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If you work with a full-service brokerage, your house will sell for 24% more money.
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Another thing to keep in mind is that, according to the National Association of Realtors, sellers who work with full-service brokerages earn 24% more when selling their house than those who worked with a discount brokerage.
While you can certainly sell your house with a discount brokerage, remember the old adage: Sometimes, you get what you pay for.
If you have any other questions about selling your home or about real estate in general, just give me a call or send me an email. I would be happy to help you!
