If you owe more on your house than it is worth in today’s market, you must either stay in your home, or offer it as a “short sale.” This means to allow someone to purchase it at a price below what you owe on it, if your lender will allow it. For more on short sales, stay tuned to this blog site, or contact us at www.jireh-homes.com.
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NOT ALL REAL ESTATE AGENTS ARE CREATED EQUAL!
Most real estate agents are great people who would love to help you sell your house. Unfortunately, most do not even work full-time! While you imagine your property is being marketed aggressively, your agent may actually be working in an entirely unrelated industry while your house sits empty all day!
How do you find a great agent, who will not only work hard for you, but also work smart? First of all, know some smart questions to ask potential agents. If you don’t already know an agent who can do the job well, you may want to interview at least three potential agents who live in the area of the property to be sold. You can find a list of agents for King & Pierce Counties (WA State) by going to Jireh Homes Professionals.
Ask these questions before listing with an agent:
- What will you do to sell my home quickly? If you read our last blog, the agent’s answers should include most of what we suggested in 7 Tips For Selling Your Home Fast. Make sure he or she covers such issues as curb appeal, interior repairs & enhancements. Ask them about staging as well.
- How many homes did you sell the past twelve months? Also Ask:
Selling your house used to be easy…just contact a realtor or even use a cheap listing service and the offers flowed in! But in today’s “buyer’s market” there is far too much inventory (houses for sale) to be so easily noticed! What can you do if you need to sell your house quickly? How do you get noticed by hungry buyers? Here how:
1. Repair your property.
If your house has anything that needs repair, you really must do so not only to attract a buyer, but also to pass their lender’s inspection! Loose railings, broken windows, leaky faucets, even the closet door off of its track will turn people off quickly. If you don’t have the time or skill, find a handyman to go through your home and make repairs. Also, consider replacing that old roof if it looks like it might leak, the antique furnace, and the stained rug. If your budget is tight, compare the cost of such repairs to what it will cost not to sell your house quickly!
2. Create curb appeal.
Drive through nearby neighborhoods and notice which houses stand out and which ones you “don’t see.” Make a list of what draws your eye to the attractive homes. Then, drive back to your street and as objectively as possible, evaluate your house. Does it stand out? What minor changes could you make to the front yard and the entry way to catch people’s eyes? Many people won’t even walk into a house (which may be beautiful inside) that looks shabby outside. Now, once that potential buyer is inside, what will they see? Will they feel at home, or will they feel like they’re walking into a cold warehouse? It may depend on your “staging” (see tip #7, below).