Selling a home can be a big task for any homeowner. Details such as home staging, photos and your real estate agent can really impact how much your home sells for and how quickly it sells.
"In today's real estate market it's a competitive market so consumers are looking for ways to rule out your house. So you really need to get back to the basics and make sure your house really shines. Is your house clean, inside and out? Is everything organized? A lot of times people think that their own interior design is a selling point, it usually isn't," said Angie Hicks, founder of Angie's List.
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Angie's List Tips: 4 ways to sell your home fast
Open houses are becoming a seldom-used item in many real estate agents' tool boxes, according to real estate experts who talked recently with Angie's List. Highly rated real estate pros tell us few sales are made at open houses and often they're just opportunities for the neighbors to check out your house. In years past, open houses were a popular way for would-be buyers to see properties they were considering. But with the rise and convenience of online listings, featuring photo and/or video tours, experts say open houses are just not as necessary.
Angie's List Tips: Working with a real estate agent
- Ask questions: Many agents offer free market analyses. Before choosing and agent, ask how they came up with their price, their opinion of what's happening in the market, etc.
- What experience do you have? You want an agent with a proven history of sales in your area. Ask how long they have been in the business, how many homes they sold last year, and the average number of days those homes were on the market.
- Do you have references? Ask for references and talk to former clients whose homes they've sold to get their experience on how the process went.
- Marketing plan: Get a copy of the agent's marketing plan, review it, and make suggestions if appropriate. A good agent should tailor a marketing plan specifically for your home – not just list the home online. He or she should be creative in making your home stand above the rest.
- Communication is key: Your agent should be in contact you frequently and keep you updated on your home and other homes for sale in your area. If you decide yours isn't doing enough, find another again who will.