Santa brought a great gift to the Hohlt household this year. Our daughter and her family who live in Dallas have decided to move back to Montgomery County. We’re looking forward to spending much more time with her, her husband and our three granddaughters.
Their first order of business will be to sell their home in Dallas. Over the Thanksgiving holidays, they asked for some advice on how to choose a Realtor to list their home. I had to commend them for asking, as choosing a Realtor will be the most important decision they’ll make in selling their home. Choosing the right agent will not only maximize the price they’ll get for their home, it will minimize their stress level. But with so many agents in Dallas to choose from, a little due diligence will be necessary on their part. So with 2 goals in mind, i.e. maximum price and minimum stress, here are a few of things I asked them to look out for in an agent.
To maximize the price you get for your home:
1. A Realtor should be an expert on pricing a home. That requires not only the assessment of comparable sales, but also evaluation of pricing trends as indicated by local market conditions. A home should be priced right from the onset. If priced too high, a home will languish on the market. If priced too low the home may sell quickly but the owner may also leave money on the table.
2. A Realtor should be able to put together a listing product that gives justice to the home’s true merits. A compelling narrative and high quality photographs should make a home stand out among its competition and entice potential buyers to schedule a showing. An extensive internet strategy, staging tips, print advertising, signage, brochures, and virtual tours are a few other items that, if effectively done, help attract potential buyers.
3. A Realtor should also provide ongoing feedback on buyer interest and changes in market conditions so that timely adjustments can be made to the home presentation, marketing plan or price.
To minimize the stress while selling your home:
1. Every real estate transaction has its unique challenges. An experienced Realtor should be able to anticipate potential problems and prevent them from interfering with a successful transaction and adding to the stress load of the home seller.
2. Good communication and people skills are a must in a Realtor. A home seller should always feel comfortable calling their Realtor at any time for any reason. A Realtor also needs to effectively communicate with the many others that will be involved in the process of selling your home.
Selling a home is typically one of the largest transactions a person makes in their lifetime. It is definitely worth the time to do some homework in selecting the person to whom you will entrust to represent you in this important task. Don’t hesitate to ask several Realtors to give you an in-home listing presentation. And check out the quality of their past work, e.g. other listings, and check references. A little due diligence on the front end will pay off in more ways than just dollars.
If you're in need of a Realtor in Montgomery County, please give me a call. I'm at 936-537-1656 and at Claudia@ClaudiaHohlt.com.
Monday, December 28, 2009
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