is your realtor working for you?
When selling a house, it's not enough to list it and sit back and wait. Below are some things your realtor should be doing for you! Your realtor should be:
- Talking to you about your goals. Obviously your main goal is to sell your home, but what are the other things that are important to you? Are you on a timeline? Do you have an ideal buyer in mind? Did you raise your family there and hope another family will enjoy it? Is this your first home, do you want to "pass on" that experience to another owner? All of these things are important for your realtor to know so they can successfully market your home to potential buyers.
- Using professional pictures. It's true what they say, a picture IS worth 1,000 words. A listed home should have images that represent the beauty of your home and highlights its features. Nothing turns a buyer off more than sloppy photos, especially at certain price points. Buyers want to know you care about your home, the photos are an opportunity to prove that.
- Staging your property. When a homebuyer is looking, they like to be able to "see themselves" in the house. Personal items, pictures, and extra furniture distract the buyer from being able to do this.
- Following up after a showing. After each showing, your realtor should follow up with the potential buyer's representative to get feedback. They should know what the buyer liked about the home but also what gives them pause.
- Marketing your home to their network. Listing agents need to be selling your house all the time. Every time they meet or talk to another realtor they should be asking about what their buyers are looking for.