If you’re selling your home in Scottsdale, it only makes sense to work with an experienced, knowledgeable real estate agent who knows how to market it aggressively (and who can get you the best possible price).
When you find your agent, these are the three questions you need to ask – and the reasoning behind each.
3 Questions You Need to Ask Your Realtor Before You Sell (And Why)
Selling a home is a big deal, and when you put it on the market, it’s in your best interest to get it right the first time. You’ll need to ask your real estate agent these three questions:
o What should I do to my house before I list it?
o How much is my home worth?
o How long do you think it will take to sell?
What Should I Do to My House Before I List It?
Your real estate agent will walk through your home with you to identify areas that could use improvement. This process is designed to show you what buyers are looking for – and so that you know when you make improvements or upgrades, buyers will be more interested. Some of the most common areas for improvement include:
o All minor fixes, such as leaky taps or running toilets
o All major fixes, if any are necessary
o Repainting
o Landscaping
o Small updates, such as faucets and light fixtures
Sometimes your real estate agent will suggest bigger improvements, like taking out carpet. That’s because he or she knows what buyers want – especially in your neighborhood. You aren’t obligated to make the improvements your real estate agent suggests, but do know that if you don’t, your home could be worth less to prospective buyers.
How Much Is My Home Worth?
Every neighborhood has its own median home value, but there’s a lot of “wiggle room” around it. Your home’s value will vary based on its size, its age, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms it has, what types of amenities are inside, and even the value of nearby homes. When your agent is looking for the right price for your home, he or she will evaluate homes similar to yours that:
o Have sold in the past few months
o Have been taken off the market in the past few months
o Are under contract
The key is that your agent will look at homes that are similar in size, age and amenities to yours – it doesn’t matter how much your neighbor’s house sold for if it has only two bedrooms and yours has four. The bottom line is that your home is worth what a buyer is willing to pay for it, and it’s your agent’s job to figure out what that amount is.
How Long Do You Think It Will Take to Sell?
Just like home values, every neighborhood has an “average time on market.” That means in some neighborhoods, homes sell within days – and in others, it can take a couple of months. There are several factors that go into how long your home will take to sell, but the good news is that there’s plenty you can do to help your agent sell your home faster.
Staging to Sell Your House Faster
If you stage your home properly, it’ll be more appealing to a wider range of buyers – and that’s one of the most important factors in selling it quickly.
Improving Curb Appeal to Sell Your House Faster
When a buyer pulls up at your curb (or looks at photos of its exterior online), he or she forms a first impression. It has to be a good one or you’ll lose the chance to “wow” them with the interior. You want to get them in the door and let the house do the rest.
Pricing Your Home Just Below Market Value to Sell it Faster
In many cases, pricing your home just below market value will help your agent sell it faster. By pricing it below other, similar homes, you could be attracting a whole segment of buyers that you wouldn’t ordinarily attract – but before you make the decision to under-price, talk to your agent about your options.
