When you’re planning to sell your home, working with a knowledgeable real estate expert will benefit you significantly.
The decision to sell your home is often a bittersweet one. You probably have many fond memories of your current home, and it can be difficult to think of stepping outside your front door for the last time.
But, because sellers are often moving to a new home, it’s usually a time of excitement and anticipation too. Often, when the selling and buying processes happen back-to-back (or, in many cases, at the same time), it can be an exhausting experience.
Fortunately, if you’re hoping to sell your home soon, you can do yourself a huge favor by partnering with a trusted real estate agent in your area. A listing agent can take a significant portion of the work off your shoulders, allowing you to focus on the next phase of your journey: looking for a new home.
A trustworthy Realtor will save you a great deal of time during your selling process, and it’s also likely that he or she will help you get a higher offer on your home than you may have received without professional assistance.
Here are just a few of the responsibilities an experienced listing agent will cover before, during, and after your home sale process…
Financial Advantage
One of the biggest benefits of working with a seller’s agent is that they can provide you with insight and advice on how to maximize the profit on the sale of your house. For instance, they may recommend certain repairs or upgrades to make your house more attractive to potential buyers. Plus, sellers who are working with an agent often receive higher offers on their homes than those who are selling without a Realtor.
Preparation & Education
Even if you’ve owned and sold a home before, the housing industry is constantly changing. Chances are, if you’re doing this again, there’s a lot of new information you may not be aware of. This is where a Realtor comes in. They can help support your goals and timing for the sale of your home, explain the details of the home sale process, and help you prepare for market dynamics like bidding wars, multiple offers, time of market (TOM) fees, or appraisal gaps.
Expertise & Knowledge
Again, unless you spend most of your time buying and selling homes, you won’t have the level of expertise that an agent can offer during your home sale process. A talented listing agent will:
- Know how to set the right price on your home to attract qualified buyers
- Provide strategic marketing for your specific area/market
- Understand how to help you avoid potential legal roadblocks
- Know which information to disclose to potential buyers (ultimately, protecting YOU)
- Keep track of important deadlines for you
Marketing & Visibility
Of course, marketing plays a crucial role in the sale of your home. An experienced real estate agent will know exactly how to reach the right audience — ultimately bringing the best potential buyers to your door (literally). From coordinating professional photography to organizing the staging of your home, an agent will have all the resources you need to market your home both online and in-person.
Time & Effort Savings
One of the biggest advantages of working with a Realtor is that it will save you a ton of time. And, let’s be honest, when you’re getting ready to sell a home, make a move, and settle into a new house, you’re really pressed for time. A listing agent can manage showings, organize open houses, screen potential buyers to find the most serious offers, and oversee the paperwork involved — which will free up a lot of time for you.
Inspections & Due Diligence
When it comes to selling your home, there’s a lot of “processes within the process,” if you know what we mean. A Realtor can help you schedule the appraisal, as well as other inspections that often go along with the process: pest, mold, roof, etc. He or she will also have several professional referrals, if you have any required repairs or services that need to be completed. Because… who has the time and the desire to research mold remediation contractors when you’re getting ready to move?
Negotiation Champions
This is another HUGE advantage of working with a Realtor when selling your home. Unless you’re particularly financially savvy when it comes to the real estate market, you probably won’t be the best person to get top dollar for your home. A listing agent will know how to handle multiple offers, maximize your profit, and handle discussions on any repairs, credits, and closing costs — ensuring that you have the best possible outcome when selling your home.
Closing Process
Even after you accept an offer on your home, there are many odds and ends to tie up before you’re finished with the process. A Realtor will help you:
- Review the accuracy of your closing paperwork
- Facilitate the final walkthrough of the home
- Schedule the closing
- Coordinate with the title company
- Manage post-closing paperwork
- Transfer your utilities at closing
Peace of Mind & Support
Ultimately, selling your home is a huge financial and — often emotional — decision. Think about other major decisions you’ve made in your life… and how the support of others made those transitions significantly easier. A knowledgeable listing agent will help you navigate challenges that may arise during the selling process, will serve as ethical representation for you, and will help you earn top dollar on your home.
Setting Yourself Up for Success
There are a multitude of ways your seller’s agent can save you time and money during the home sale process. This is likely one of the most significant financial decisions of your life — it’s probably not the best time to navigate the process alone!
If you’re looking for a Realtor, first find an experienced loan originator in your area. We can provide recommendations for trustworthy, knowledgeable agents in your community; plus, we’ll be here when you’re ready to make your next purchase!
