There’s no denying of the fact, real estate agents have a lot of work to do. From listing down different homes with the correct quote down to helping you all in buying a house for the first time, real estate agents have a long list of tasks. However, such people are also key players in the market because they have to earn a good amount of money for themselves. If you’re selling your house for the first time, multiple things can help in magnifying the value of the property. Continue reading to know the following secrets that can help you in selling your house faster:
- Open House Helps More Than Anything
Don’t believe it? Yes, it works! The open house is a better way for an agent to attract more clients in a short time. Although open houses don’t work eventually like a magic spell, they do have the power to work as a catalyst in the selling process of a house. Open houses are strong tools for newer agents and allow customers to get a clear perspective on the size of the house. Furthermore, an open house paddles a healthy reputation of the seller in a way that people feel comfortable in walking in the house without having to schedule a meeting with the homeowner.
- Scents Matter
One of the most common reasons why people turn down even the most lucrative properties in town is because of bad smell. They say the first impression is the last impression, which exactly works when somebody walks into the property for the first time. It’s not even the beautiful appearance that can encapsulate a buyer’s mind but the sweet fragrance, which emanates from the rooms of the house. Even if your real estate agent doesn’t tell you, keep in mind, it is essential to clean the house before somebody walks in to check the property.
- Don’t Act Rude on a Lower Offer
Most people wait for the ‘right offer,’ which sometimes doesn’t come their way. When you’re selling your house, it is essential to accept an average offer instead of waiting for the best one. You never know when a sudden calamity might befall the real estate market, causing the prices to crash. Experts claim, the longer your house sits in the property market, the less likely it is for the property to get an attractive price. Therefore it is essential to act wise and sit for a lower price in the beginning.
- Read Before You Sign
As a responsible seller, you must read everything that is inscribed in the agent’s listing or buyer’s contract. Experts often warn people of hidden fees for both buyers and sellers. Such hidden charges are often termed as administrative fees, real estate transaction fees etc. Therefore, it is always suitable to ask about fees upfront. For most people, such hidden charges come to them as a shock when they go through them for the first time.
- Don’t Bypass Inspections
Most people overlook costly inspections, especially if the house looks in perfect condition. However, skipping costly inspection can be big trouble in the long run. If you don’t have hands-on experience of inspecting your house, it is better to consider professional help. An inspector won’t only identify the loopholes in the house but will also give you the perfect suggestions for getting all the work done. People who often overlook costly inspection, in the long run, end up spending a lot of money on the property to correct all the issues.
- Don’t Turn People Away Because of Mess
If you want your house to be sold on time, there’s nothing better than decluttering. Furthermore, if you get the last minute request from the client to show your property, never turn it down just because there’s a lot of mess in the house. Somebody who is heavily invested in the architecture of the house won’t leave just because of a few dirty dishes. People who suffer from OCD often end up losing a good seller because of silly mistakes.
- Ask To Get What You Paid For
Do you think your real estate agent will give you the best treatment in the world after getting paid whatever amount he asked? You need to rethink the concept because the bulk of his work will be passed on to a junior agent or an assistant. This is why you should always ask the agent about how much they’ll be involved throughout the process. Once you know about the level of investment of a person in this work, you will easily be able to ensure if the agent is worth the money he/she is being paid.
- Don’t Skip The Final Walk-Through
Talking about a sofa replacement is far easier than a final walkthrough but it is essential to perform this last step. Not to forget, this is your last step to make sure there are no faulty faucets or leaking water pipes in the house. This way you will also be able to ensure that the owner’s items have been removed and items agreed should stay. Although most homeowners despise selling home accessories such as light fixtures, dryers and washers, many of them keep them in the house at the time of selling to improve the value of the house.
- Beware of Seller’s Agents Who Overestimate Your House’s Selling Price
Most sellers have their heart set on a higher price, which means you won’t settle happily for a lower price at the end. Beware of agents who tend to overvalue the price of a property. This process is called buying the listing”, this means an agent will know that you’ll reduce the price later on. In the meantime, an agent will be able to enjoy free listings and publicity through your open house facility and yard signs. Such people often cause emotional damage to homeowners by overvaluing their properties.
- Empty House Can Look Smaller
Although emptying houses help the buyer in getting a perspective on the space of the house, they do create trouble for those who are confused about the placement of furniture and other stuff. Even though your house will look spacious with no stuff but it will surely leave a negative impact on many prospective buyers. Therefore it is essential to adjust some stuff in the house during the process of selling to make sure, buyers get some clarity on the placement of different items in the house.
- Don’t Trust Real Estate Websites To Value Your Home
Keep in mind, the price of a property varies from state to state. You cannot expect the same luxury houses of the same size to have the same prices in two different states. One big problem that most sellers face is when they’re not being able to get the right quote for their property. The best way to get a quote for your property is to consult an expert in your neighborhood and educate yourself instead of relying on websites, which are not even reliable at times.
- Honesty is The Best Policy
Most agents won’t tell the client if a mysterious murder took place in the house. However, if you get an opportunity to interact with a skeptical client, the best thing is to be honest and tell the truth. Although agents don’t disclose such information. Instead of lying and losing the client later on, it is better to be upfront in the beginning. Keep in mind, most states don’t demand to disclose any such information but it is a human right of any purchaser to know about the detailed history of the property. For instance, if you were previously held accountable for drinking habits, always tell everything to the client. Google the name of the state with the lawyer, you need to get a list of veteran professionals. If you live in California, you can google Orange County DUI lawyer to get a list of all the people working in your locality.
- The Commission is Always Negotiable
Until you sign a contract, all kinds of commissions are negotiable. The most common stereotypical myth that continues to hound all listings is, there is a 6% commission that is custom in most markets. However, don’t fall for this trap and always try to negotiate the commission amount with the real estate agent. Secondly, if you believe the agent is charging more than he/she is supposed to get, look for another one.
- Renting is A Good Option
Even if your property is all set to be sold in the commercial market, there’s nothing better than renting it out for a few months. People who wait for years to get a good price for their property often end up losing a lot of money in the form of rental income. On paper, you might have the buying power to buy a property but might not have the ability to cover monthly expenses or property taxes. Renting is a better option if you aren’t ready to give away your property in the first instance.
Commission Can Be Paid in Installments
Regardless of what you have been told by the agent, the commission can be paid in installments. Keep in mind, a real estate agent works with several clients at the same time. During this process, they are responsible for helping you through several issues, which is why you are not bound to pay the commission as soon as the job is done. For instance, if you want to get out of timeshare legally, a real estate agent will be responsible for guiding you through the right process.
