People hope that selling their homes will be a relatively smooth and easy process. Realistically, however, most home sales are significantly more complex, and even transactions that seem simple on the surface, may be fraught with financial and legal risks. Selecting an experienced, well-established realtor will greatly mitigate these risks and enhance your chances of selling your home quickly and profitably, with the most favorable terms and conditions.
A Realtor should work proactively on your behalf and should provide support and guidance throughout the process of selling your home. You can, and should, expect your Realtor to:
- Help you price your home correctly.
- Market your home effectively.
- suggesting easy ways to make your home more attractive
- putting up a lawn sign that is consistent with local ordinances
- developing and paying for display and classified ads in a variety of newspapers and magazines
- entering your listing into a variety of Internet sites as well as the Multiple Listing Service
- taking professional photos of your property and preparing floor plans and brochures
- holding open houses for both Realtors and the public
- Network through direct mailing and communications with relocation companies and community organizations.
- Show your home – screening buyers, making appointments and following up all showings.
- Negotiate both price and terms of all offers on your behalf.
- Communicate regularly with your attorney, buyer’s realtor and lender, and all other involved parties, ensuring all steps are executed in an appropriate, correct and timely fashion.
- Coordinate all details of the house inspection, bank appraisal, final walk-through, and settlement (time, date and place of closing).
There are many relevant factors involved in selecting the right Realtor to work with you in selling your home. The following is a list of questions to help you get started in selecting the Realtor that is a perfect fit for you:
- How long have you been licensed?
- How much experience do you have in selling homes in this area?
- How actively will you work to sell my home?
- What kind of marketing plan will you employ?
- How often can I expect to get a progress report?
You may also ask prospective Realtors what designations and awards they have earned and what professional associations they are members of. Finally, and most essentially, you should ask any Realtor, with whom you are considering listing your home, for the names of at least three previous clients who can provide references for the Realtor. The best indicator that you will be satisfied with a Realtor’s work is that his or her previous clients have been satisfied.
Selling your home can be stressful. Working with the right Realtor can help minimize the difficulties and risks involved and optimize your chances of selling your home in the least amount of time and with the greatest profit possible.
Good luck and happy home selling!!!
Ruth Miron-Schleider, a long-time resident of Bergen County, has been a real estate broker for over 3 decades. She is the Owner and Managing Director of MIRON PROPERTIES. Ruth is a Certified Residential Specialist, an e-PRO Internet Professional and an Accredited Buyer Representative. She is a member of the Eastern Bergen Board of Realtors, National Association of Counselors, the Senior Advantage Real Estate Council, and the Graduate Realtor Institute.
Ruth has been the Recipient of Circle of Excellence Award every single year since 1999, and the recipient of Reader’s Choice #1 Real Estate Agent Award every single year since 2015.
For a complimentary consultation, call Ruth at MIRON PROPERTIES, 201.266.8555 (office), 201.906.6024 (direct), or contact her via e-mail: Ruth@MironProperties.com.
Information deemed reliable but not guaranteed, subject to errors and omissions.
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