Selling Your Home? Here’s Why a Reputable Realtor is Essential
Selling your home can be an emotional process. After all, this is where you raised your family and created many fond memories.
Professional Marketing
A reputable Realtor like Loretta Maimone has extensive real estate market knowledge and understands what buyers seek in a home. This can help them make the right decisions to maximize your sales price and speed up selling your property. They will also be able to market your home on various websites, increasing the likelihood of attracting qualified buyers. This can be crucial in a fast-moving real estate market where it may take a few days for a potential buyer to find your listing online. Pricing your home well can also increase the chances of a bidding war and a smooth, successful sale.
Strong Negotiation Skills
A home seller who goes the for-sale-by-owner route will often learn that negotiating is critical to selling their property. This can be especially true in a challenging market like the one we are currently experiencing.
A skilled real estate agent should be able to identify and prioritize the needs of both buyers and sellers during negotiations. This approach can help avoid common pitfalls in the sales process, such as delayed responses, long requests, and limited access to decision-makers. A reputable agent can also identify and manage buyer-related issues, such as a low appraisal or unexpected repairs.
Expert Advice
It’s important to be honest about your home when listing it. A good agent will help you find the right price to attract buyers and leave room for profit. They will use comparable homes in your neighborhood to provide expert pricing advice.
They can tell you whether or not your house is overpriced based on its size, number of rooms, year built, and neighborhood averages. They will also factor in upgrades and renovations to understand your property’s value accurately. They will also list contractors and other professionals they trust to get jobs done before and during the sale. This can save you time and money.
Access to a Wide Network of Buyers
Many sellers dream of a stress-free sale in which they list their home, quickly find a buyer and hand over the keys. However, reality is much more complex than that. For example, a home inspection may reveal issues that must be addressed, or the buyer’s mortgage lender might require them to provide proof of funds before closing.
A reputable realtor will always be honest about these matters and encourage their clients to be, saving everyone time and money. Some homeowners avoid paying a real estate commission by selling their home independently, known as for-sale-by-owner (FSBO). However, this can be risky, especially in today’s market.
Knowledge of the Local Market
Local market expertise is a vital trait to look for in a real estate agent. A great sign is if they can provide concrete data on market trends in your neighborhood, such as average days on the market and the current median home price.
They should also be aware of local economic indicators influencing property values, such as school improvements or new businesses that bring in jobs. This will help them to identify opportunities and market your home to the most qualified buyers. Strong local connections can also be beneficial in securing off-market listings and reputable service providers. This translates to higher quality decisions for clients and quicker sales.
Experience
In addition to marketing your home effectively, a real estate agent can provide insight into upgrades to make it stand out from the competition and pay for themselves in the sales process. They also know what features are selling points for buyers and how to showcase them during tours.
Look for an agent who can answer questions about the local market, including average days on the market and median listing price, off the top of their head. They should also be able to rattle off facts about the neighborhood, like its quality schools or crime statistics. By focusing on the financial aspects of selling your home, you can avoid the emotional ups and downs of the process.
