Hiring an experienced, local, full-service real estate professional is of the utmost importance when selling your home. Your home is most likely one of the most important investments you’ve ever made. Protect your investment by hiring the best real estate broker to help you with the sale. Hire a broker who can get you the most money, with the least amount of stress and in the least amount of time.
Hire a Full-Service Real Estate Broker
It’s very important to hire a broker who offers full services and doesn’t just put your listing in the MLS. You want someone with a comprehensive marketing plan, who communicates and stays in touch with you and who will work with you every step of the way from before listing all the way through closing. Some sellers are just looking for brokers who charge low commission rates. It’s not just about the amount of commission a broker charges. Sometimes it can cost you a lot of money if you don’t hire a knowledgeable, full-service real estate broker.
Experience and Expertise are a Must
Be sure to hire a real estate broker who has lived and worked in your area for quite awhile. A local broker will have a lot of expertise in the area and will know the market best. Make sure you hire a real estate broker with experience and who has been in the business for years. For example, the best broker will have many years of real estate experience and will have worked in different markets, such as buyer’s markets and seller’s markets. He or she should also know current market trends and be able to give you a lot of advice to help you prepare your home for sale and through the entire selling process. Be sure your broker has negotiating experience will be able to manipulate the sale in your favor. Finally, be sure your broker has a problem-solver mindset and is attentive to detail, as this can cost you thousands of dollars if any mistakes are made.
Pre-Listing Services and Advice
Your real estate broker will perform many pre-listing services for you at your listing appointment and before you list your house. One such service may include providing you with a listing book with pricing strategies and their marketing program. They should also give you advice on anything your house needs before you list it such as repairs, updates and upgrades, staging and more.
1) A good real estate broker will prepare a comprehensive listing book with a comparative market analysis (CMA)in it and their pricing recommendations. The CMA will include comparable homes that have sold in the past six months or so, homes that are currently on the market and homes that are under contract and pending closing. They should give you pricing recommendations which should range from an aggressive listing price to a conservative listing price. The book should also include a net sheet or closing proceeds sheet that will spell out all of the approximate costs to sell your house including commission, title charges, city, state and county fees, attorney fees, survey cost and more. The book may include a legal listing agreement that you will sign with your broker. Your broker should also include their marketing program in the listing book so you know exactly what to expect from them and have it in writing.
2) Your broker should walk through the house with you and give you advice on any necessary repairs they see. If your broker can see any obvious defects or safety hazards, it’s best to get the issues repaired or replaced before listing. They will come up in the buyer’s home inspection anyhow, so it’s best to get them taken care of ahead of time. You will get a better offer and essentially more money for your home if there aren’t obvious problems that can be seen with the naked eye.
3) Your broker should give you recommendations on updating, upgrading and simple staging tips that will make your house more desirable to buyers. He will be able to advise you on the trending colors and materials that buyers are looking for. Listen to your broker if painting and replacing carpeting or flooring is recommended. Updating your kitchen and bathrooms will also help your sale. Your broker will probably tell you to de-clutter as much as possible. He should be able to give you simple staging advice or recommend a staging company. Today’s buyers are looking for move-in ready homes that don’t need much updating and work done after closing.
Their Marketing Program
Your real estate broker should have a comprehensive marketing program to expose your listing to as many people and potential buyers as possible.
1) The local multiple listing system
First and foremost they should be putting your listing into their local multiple listing system (MLS.) This will expose your listing to thousands of member brokers in the local MLS who may have a buyer for your home.
2) Professional quality listing photos
Your broker should have a professional real estate photographer take photos of your home. If your broker takes photos themselves, be sure they use a professional camera with a wide lens. Your listing photos will be used in all of the marketing so having high quality photos is very important. Some brokers will have drone photos and videos taken of the outside of your home, above and around your home. Virtual tour photos and videos are also advised. The more quality photos and videos buyers can see, the better chance they will want to come see your home in person.
3) A yard sign
Be sure your broker puts a “for sale” sign up in your yard. Some buyers like to drive through their desired neighborhoods to see what’s for sale. Also, some of your neighbors might know someone who wants to move into the neighborhood.
4) The internet
More than 90% of buyers look for homes on the internet before they have their real estate broker show them homes. Be sure your broker puts your listing on websites such as Realtor.com, Zillow.com, Trulia.com, Homes.com, Yahoo.com and more websites. Some buyers see homes they are interested in on social media. Ask your broker for a link to put on your social media and have family and friends share it.
5) Open houses
Some brokers still host open houses. A smaller percentage of homes are sold as a result of open houses since there are so many people who browse the internet instead of attending open houses. Many real estate professionals agree that internet photos and videos are the “new” open houses. Discuss whether or not an open house is important to you with your broker.
6) Print advertising and marketing
Most brokers don’t put ads in newspapers of real estate guides anymore. However, having printed flyers inside your home for buyers and their brokers to take is advisable. Some brokers will attach a box to your yard sign with flyers in it. Some brokers will mail out postcards to your neighborhood and surrounding neighborhoods to market your listing.
7) Email campaign
Some brokers email your listing to all brokers in the area. They may email it to their current and past clients to see if they are interested or know anyone who might be interested in your home. They may also email it to the well vetted contractors, mortgage brokers, home inspectors, moving companies, appraisers, home staging companies and more people in their network.
Having a good real estate professional really does matter when selling your home. You’ll sell your house faster and make more money having an experienced broker. If you are looking to sell your home in the Scottsdale, AZ market you need look no further than the Scottsdale realtor team The Kay-Grant Group.
Leave a Reply