Selling your property at the highest price
in the shortest amount of time with the least amount of stress.
Sounds straight forward and it should be.
My advice:
Interview, choose and "hire" the best agent you
can find to represent you. Do research about their qualifications
and talk to other sellers whom they have represented. Make sure
you feel comfortable with their style and presentation. Understand
exactly how the agent intends to market your property. Right
now the internet is attracting buyers locally and from all over
the world. What is the agents web site like - would it attract
you? Don't underestimate the importance of having your home on
the internet and featured on the agents own site.
Remember, it is the agent, not the company that sells your
home. No matter how impressive the company figures and PR, it
is up to the agent and her/his expertise to get you the best
offer and carry it to a successful conclusion.
Don't choose an agent because they give you the highest opinion
of value. That can often be misleading. Unfortunately some agents
will over value the property in order to get the listing, saying
that you can always lower the price if it doesn't sell. This
is the number 1 worst thing you can do when marketing your home-overprice
it. Buyers and other agents know it is overpriced after a few
showings. Your property then becomes know as the "overpriced"
home and is effectively off the market or used as a comp to sell
another correctly priced home. When you reduce the price to the
correct one, it may already be "shopworn" and you may
have missed the current active market. If you are serious about
selling your home, don't overprice it and be sure you are not
underpricing it.
Insist on knowing exactly how your agent arrived at the asking
price for your property. Have you agent treat you as a buyer
and take you to other homes in your price range. Compare prices
with an open mind and listen carefully to the reason for your
valuation. If it doesn't make sense to you, choose another agent.
When selling land, choose and agent who knows and has experience
in all aspects of valuing and marketing land and thoroughly unerstands
the process of land development.
Once you have chosen an agent, listen to her/his advice concerning
all aspects of the sale try to relax and enjoy the adventure.
It can be very stressful and emotionally exhausting, especially
if you are also purchasing another home at the same time-or even
worse, also relocating to another area. This is when you really
need to feel sure that you have the right agent working for you.
Choose carefully.
