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:

1. 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.
2. How many homes did you sell the past twelve months? Also Ask:




3. How much did you end up discounting or raising the price of the homes you sold?  How does this differ from the local average?
4. How will you determine the price I should sell my house for?
5. What will you do to market my property besides listing it on the MLS?
6. What questions do you typically ask of those to whom you show properties? (This may help you discover if they know how to sell, or just unlock a door!)
7. You might even ask if they would discount their commission.  If they are eager to do so, it might not be a good sign.  An agent who works effectively and sells a lot of houses fast, is worth his/her full commission.  Don’t hire a cheap agent!
8. 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.
9. For more tips on finding great real estate agents, check out Jireh Homes Professionals

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).

3. Price your home attractively.

When there are a lot of houses to look at, the hungry buyer wants a great price. You don’t have to give your house away, but you probably can’t be the highest priced home in the neighborhood either. If you need to sell your house quickly, you will probably have to give at least a small price concession. How do you know what other homes are selling for, and therefore how to price your home? You’ll need to talk with an experienced Realtor or Real Estate Investor who is active in today’s market. Check out Jireh Homes – Sell Your Home for leads to good Realtors in King & Pierce County (WA State).

4. Offer Incentives.

So what if fixing and pricing your home attractively doesn’t attract a buyer? Offer an incentive such as new carpeting in the color of your buyer’s choice, or a new refrigerator. These may sound expensive, but weigh the cost of a new appliance against paying a few more mortgage payments! How else can you get your home in front of hungry buyers? Offer terms!

5. Offer flexible terms.

“Terms” refer to how your buyer can buy your house. For example, find out if the buyer would buy if they could just close quickly, or perhaps close not so quickly! Find out what they would need to make it work. See if leaving appliances would help or hinder…or if you could offer to cover some of their closing costs. Make sure that your Realtor is asking lots of questions to every person who looks at your property, not just letting them in to take a look! An aggressive agent really can make a big difference in how quickly your house sells.

6. Enlist the help of a great agent.

Many sellers balk at the notion of paying a real estate commission for what seems like nothing more than showing the house and doing the paperwork…and they’re correct…if that’s all the agent does! And some agents do as little as possible to earn their commission. That’s why it’s critical to find a successful agent, with lots of experience.   This kind of agent knows a lot of people, including potential buyers. They also know what sells a house and what turns people away quickly…things the average seller is not necessarily aware of…thing like “curb appeal.” You can find a list of recommended Realtors (WA State) by going to Jireh Homes – Professionals.

7. Consider home staging.

A professional home staging agent will come in and take away some furnishings and rearrange others to make your house feel like a home. They may also cost a bit of money. If resources are tight, consider how to move as much of your “stuff” out of the house, leaving only a few attractive pieces. To get an idea of what furnishings and/or nick-nacks to leave, Google some expensive homes for sale in your county, and see how they are staged.

Follow these “must do’s” and you will put your property in the best possible light to be noticed by the many hungry buyers in today’s market!

And if all else fails…

There are investors who will buy your home quickly for cash, at a slightly discounted rate. Check out Jireh Homes – Sell Your Home