Much like buying a home, selling a home in the Phoenix major metropolitan area can be a stressful and daunting task. Well, you may be relieved to hear that it doesn’t have to be. Rather than go through this lengthy and complicated process on your own, find a real estate agent in your area to help you. Professional Realtors know the real estate market in your area, they have access to all the data about recent sales in your neighborhood and the surrounding neighborhoods, and can help you price your home accordingly.
Always be wary of an agent that wants to list your home at the highest price possible. While you certainly want to get a good price for your home, you also want to sell your property quickly. While your property is on the market, you’re still paying home owner insurance, taxes, and mortgage payments, and the longer the house is on the open market, the more it’s value will drop, costing you money. Much like the old saying “a bird in hand is worth two in the brush,” the best price you can get for your house is the price you get right now. Local real estate experts know the local trends and markets and can help you price your house appropriately.
Real estate agents also have access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), a database of current homes for sale. When you hire an agent, information about your real estate instantly becomes available to all agents across an area. These agents search the MLS for potential buyers in order to locate properties they might be interested in, so it’s important to get your property on that database.
If you try to sell your home by yourself, without an agent, your home won’t get listed on the MLS, so buyer’s agents won’t see it and can’t bring it to their client’s attention. Another thing to bear in mind is that some buyers may not feel comfortable looking at a house with the current owner, rather than an agent. Some people just don’t like confrontation and may feel awkward discussing things about a house they don’t like for fear of offending you or seeming rude, no matter how friendly or approachable you may be. Let a Realtor handle showings, as people are far less inhibited talking about matters with a real estate agent rather than the owner and your agent knows how to handle matters.
A professional real estate agent can also help you get your house ready for sale, walk you through the paperwork you will need before you can offer your home, point out any zoning or housing-code violations, and suggest improvements. They sell a lot of houses, so they have a keen eye on what will turn away prospective buyers and can give you inexpensive tips on fixing your property up to be the best it can be.
They also talk with other real estate agents regularly and word-of-mouth is an extremely effective way to find buyers. In addition, your agent may also host special showings of your property that is limited to other real estate agents, who will see your house through a professional eye and a mind towards their client’s needs. Your agent will also negotiate the deal on your behalf, which can be extremely helpful if a potential buyer is particularly demanding.
