When you’re ready to sell your home, it’s common to start by browsing sites like Realtor.com, Zillow, Redfin, or Trulia to see what similar properties in your neighborhood have sold for recently.
However, it’s important to remember that these sites aren’t always 100% accurate.
Listings that were never listed in the MLS, such as pocket listings or For Sale By Owners, may be missing. Additionally, the information on these sites is often out of date or not accurate because not every Realtor manually changes their listing from Active to Sold.
This is why it’s crucial to hire a real estate agent who knows the local market and can provide you with a comprehensive CMA (comparable market analysis). A professional real estate agent will take into account all of the factors that online sites may miss, such as homes that have sold within the last 90 days and square footage comparisons between similarly sized homes.
So skip the guesswork and hire a real estate agent to help you sell your home with confidence!
Find a REALTOR®
If you’re looking to sell your home, it’s important to hire a real estate agent who is not only great at their job but also someone you like and trust. But how do you find the right REALTOR®? One way is to ask friends and family for referrals. Another option is to contact multiple agents and set up initial phone screenings with them. Pay attention to how quickly each Realtor responds to your initial inquiry. A good sign is if they get back to you within 24 hours, as this business moves fast, and deals can be lost if your REALTOR® doesn’t respond quickly on your behalf to showing requests, offers, inspection negotiations, and more. At Town & Parish Realty, we believe we could be the right fit for you.
Initial Phone Screening
When you’re looking to hire a real estate agent, it’s important to find someone who knows your neighborhood and has experience helping clients buy or sell property in the area. During the initial phone screening, ask about their background and expertise. If you feel like they might be a good fit, ask them to do a CMA on your home and set up an in-person meeting. During this meeting, be prepared to answer questions about your home, including how much you owe on your mortgage and whether any repairs are needed. This information is crucial for the REALTOR® to accurately assess the value of your property. At Town & Parish Realty, we have extensive experience working with clients throughout various neighborhoods in the Greater Baton Rouge area.
Meet In Person and Review the CMA
When you meet with the REALTOR® in person, ask them our Interview questions for hiring a REALTOR® (click here). Go over the CMA (click here for tips on reading a CMA). Ask them not only what they think your home is worth, but what the average days on market (i.e. the number of days from when your home goes on the market until you have an accepted contract) is in your area. If the REALTOR® doesn’t know this, move on. Ask them what they charge, how much the closing costs will be, and what approximately you’ll net if you sell your home for X price. Most importantly, be honest with each REALTOR®. If you need to sell your home for a certain amount of money or in a certain time frame, tell them. Only when REALTORS have a complete picture can they come up with the best strategy to fit your situation. Lastly, trust your gut.
Sign the Paperwork
After you’ve chosen to hire a real estate agent, you should expect to sign a listing agreement that authorizes the REALTOR® to represent you. This agreement is an important step in getting your home on the market and should be taken seriously. At Town & Parish Realty, we provide all of our clients with transparent and easy-to-understand listing agreements and disclosures.
Contact us today at 225-243-7277 or info@townandparish.com to learn more about how we can help with all of your real estate needs!
Step 2 Guide To Selling A Home: Preparing a Home for Sale with a REALTOR®
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