Explore the Factors of Selling your Home: How to find a Realtor

This month we’re exploring the various steps and factors of selling your home. If you want to start at the beginning of the series head here . Or if you’re looking for a quick printable you’ll want to view my Homeowners Guide to Selling

Once you have decided that you would like to sell your home I highly suggest you speak with a Realtor.  A Realtor can assist you in getting your home ready to go on the market. They can tell you what your home may sell for, what the trends of the neighborhood market is and what improvements or changes you may want to make to your home to make it more desirable to buyers.

If you don’t know any Realtors you can reach out to family and friends for recommendations, consider Realtors that have sold homes in your neighborhood recently, or perhaps there is a charitable organization that is near and dear to your heart that a local agent regularly sponsors. It is smart to interview a few Realtors so that you can find one that will work best for your situation.

When speaking with a Realtor there are a few basic questions you should ask

1. What is your fee for listing a home and what does this include? Real Estate Agents are usually paid by commission that is based on a percentage of the price your home sales for. This
percentage varies from area to area and agent to agent. Usually this percentage includes the
marketing the agent would use, such as photos, flyers etc., but it’s best to double check. In addition there are many other ways a Realtor can get paid and it’s best to know up front what this structure will be

2. Will I work with only you or do you have a team that I will be interacting with? Again it’s best to be clear upfront what the structure of communication will be.

3. Where would you price my home and why?

I also highly recommend you ask some additional questions. Remember you are going to be relying on this person to not only get you the best price for your home, but also ensure you have a great transaction and usually you need to know more than what they charge to determine if this person is a good fit for you.

1. What inspections do you recommend I get prior to listing my home? I always recommend a seller get a pest inspection at minimum prior to listing their home, this way you have time to do any necessary repairs.

2. Is there anything you recommend I do to my home in order for it to appeal to more buyers? I will often give my sellers a punch list of things they can do to improve the appeal of the home. It could be fresh flowers to be planted, to repairing cracks in the driveway.

3. What pathways will you use to market my home? You don’t want an agent that is going to take pictures with their phone, use those on the MLS and call it a day. The agent should be
discussing professional photos, email campaigns, social media or other venues that fit your
home and the neighborhood it’s being sold in.

In conclusion, finding the right Realtor is paramount to a successful home sale. Look for someone well versed in your local market, adept at showcasing properties, skilled in negotiation, and, above all, a trustworthy representative committed to securing the optimal price for your home. Your choice of Realtor can make all the difference in achieving a seamless and rewarding home-selling experience.