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It turns out you can pick a bigger, more expensive Real Estate Team than you really need. Yet other team members are more than worth it. So let\u2019s review some, including:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Real Estate Agent<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Real Estate Attorney<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Appraiser<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Home Inspector<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Contractors<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Stager<\/strong><\/li>\n
- Photographer<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Your real estate agent can be one powerhouse individual or a listing agent from a group that works together. A good agent does a long list of things<\/a> to improve your chances of selling faster, for the best possible price.<\/a><\/p>\n
An agent should do Jim Phelps\u2019s job on Mission: Impossible: plan the mission and head up the team.<\/p>\n
A Great Real Estate Agent:<\/h2>\n
- \n
- Stays on top of the recent sales and price trends in your area<\/li>\n
- Creates local marketing materials and strategies<\/li>\n
- Makes recommendations on and\/or hires other real estate team members<\/li>\n
- Runs your open house(s) and other showings<\/li>\n
- Gets your listing on all the important online search sites, perhaps even creates a virtual tour<\/a> of your home. (The National Association of Realtors<\/a>\u00a0reports more than 90% of buyers do online searching first.)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
The real estate agent should be your first priority for the Real Estate Team. Since she plays such a big role in your house\u2019s sale, you need a super pick.<\/p>\n
We recommend you interview at least three agents before you make your choice.<\/p>\n
Here are a Few Things to Ask During an Interview:<\/h3>\n
- \n
- Is she full-time?<\/li>\n
- What\u2019s her level of education in her field, and how many years of experience does she have?<\/li>\n
- How familiar is he with your neighborhood? Has he sold homes on your street?<\/li>\n
- What\u2019s his track record? (Make sure you check out their HomeLight profile for a full run-down.)<\/li>\n
- How many sellers does he represent at one time? How much of his work gets delegated?<\/li>\n
- Are her fees negotiable?<\/li>\n
- What is her customized marketing plan for your particular house?<\/li>\n
- Will she show you references from previous clients?<\/li>\n
- How often will he be in touch with you?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
HomeLight\u2019s database<\/a> contains hundreds of thousands of real estate agents. Using data analysis from millions of actual housing transactions, and your input about your own needs, we can provide personalized recommendations to get you started!<\/p>\n
Do You Need a Real Estate Attorney?<\/h2>\n
Sure, you can hire one. But before you switch channels from Mission: Impossible to a legal drama, consider whether you really need one.<\/p>\n
Top 1% Florida real estate agent Dylan Snyder<\/a> labels real estate attorneys as problem solvers; for example, when someone tries to back out of a contract, or the buyer and seller have a conflict about a repair request.<\/p>\n
But outside of problems, a real estate attorney is only necessary for complicated situations, such as selling huge estate properties or dealing with a 50-page builder contract.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t push it one way or another,\u201d he says. \u201cIf it\u2019s a straightforward situation, it\u2019s not something I recommend, but they can certainly do it.\u201d Some people want to be \u201cultra-ultra cautious,\u201d but Dylan adds that a good real estate agent should be all you need to handle contracts, etc., and \u201cexperienced agents cost less\u201d than attorneys.<\/p>\n
Chances are your real estate agent can recommend an attorney, since they use them themselves, or you can try online at legalmatch.com.<\/a><\/p>\n
Do You Need an Appraiser on Your Real Estate Team?<\/h2>\n
Dylan Snyder says no, absolutely not, in a normal situation where \u201cthe owner is a realistic seller\u201d and the \u201cnumbers speak for themselves.\u201d<\/p>\n
An appraisal to assess the value of your home<\/a> will happen, but that takes place once the seller and buyer have signed a purchase agreement. Before that, your real estate agent has the knowledge to create a listing price that reflects value.<\/p>\n
An appraisal, even from a licensed, experienced appraiser, is still just an educated guess from a third party. Dylan Snyder says an appraiser\u2019s opinion helps when he and a seller disagree about the value\/listing price, or when there aren\u2019t comparable sales in the area. Then, he says, he suggests they \u201cstep back a little\u201d and get that third party opinion.<\/p>\n
The National Association of Real Estate Appraisers<\/a> provides a Search Directory on their web site.<\/p>\n
Your buyer will hire a Home Inspector, but this is also someone for your Real Estate Team. Sellers who don\u2019t like surprises at the last minute will benefit from having their own inspections done.<\/p>\n
The American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI)<\/a> explains that inspections \u201ccover the condition of the home\u2019s heating system; central air conditioning system (temperature permitting); interior plumbing and electrical systems; the roof, attic and visible insulation; walls, ceilings, floors, windows and doors; the foundation, basement and structural components.\u201d<\/p>\n
That\u2019s a lot of valuable information about your home to have sooner rather than later, because you want:<\/p>\n
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- To know about problems before the buyer\u2019s inspector finds them and the buyer demands costly repairs.<\/li>\n
- To make decisions by yourself about what to repair and what to just disclose \u201cas is\u201d, without the buyer pressuring you to spend money.<\/li>\n
- To have your own report to compare the buyer\u2019s inspection to.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
ASHI<\/a> has a \u201cFind An Inspector\u201d tool for buyers and sellers!<\/p>\n
Your ‘Prepare Your House for Sale’ Real Estate Team<\/h2>\n
What dream team members do you need to have your house make its best first impression when it goes on the market?<\/p>\n
Part of that answer depends on what repairs you have to do and what systems need maintenance or updating. If your faucets drip and your furnace hasn\u2019t been serviced lately, these people need to be on your team!<\/p>\n
But what about things beyond fixing actual problems? What kind of makeover, if any, should you think about?<\/p>\n
Remodeling magazine\u2019s annual Cost vs. Value Report<\/a> shows the return-on-investment for renovation work, the national trends and the ROI in your part of the country. And trends can change quickly! Recent information suggests that you might want team members who can:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Update front doors and\/or garage doors<\/li>\n
- Prune or add color to your landscape for curb appeal, which includes getting rid of plants that block natural light in the house<\/li>\n
- Insulate the attic<\/li>\n
- Make your home more energy efficient: the NAHB reports<\/a> that more than 60% of home buyers would spend more to save money in the long run through energy efficiency and green updates.<\/li>\n
- Take down walls to create open living space.<\/li>\n
- Change out cabinet fronts, hardware, lighting fixtures, countertops, sinks, and old appliances in kitchens and bathrooms.<\/li>\n
- Update flooring.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
If a contractor suggests building a new deck or another bathroom from scratch, or gutting the whole kitchen, consult the report before handing out a Team uniform.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Of course there are the must-dos, and you can do them yourself, or hire someone to take them off your hands. HomeLight also has listings<\/a> for contractors and vendors who can do these jobs:<\/li>\n
- Clean. Really, really clean. Everything has to shine and sparkle, and stay that way.<\/li>\n
- De-clutter. You want potential buyers to get an exciting sense of your house\u2019s\u2026well, potential for them. The grandkids\u2019 fridge art and all the magazines have got to go for now. The National Association of Professional Organizers has members with many specialties to fit your needs.<\/li>\n
- Paint. Tired, marked-up walls are like a gloomy face on a first date. Bubble-gum pink bedroom walls may raise a red flag. A fresh, neutral look will show off the wonderful features of your house.<\/li>\n
- Get that curb appeal: new plants, tree pruning, new sod, or bright colors in the garden.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
![\"staging](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/apartment-architecture-bookcase-271816-e1549478011388.jpg\")
Source: (Pixabay \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Does Your Real Estate Team Need a Home Stager?<\/h2>\n
What\u2019s this Home Stager trend that everyone is talking about? Does your Real Estate Team need one?<\/p>\n
Pioneer stager Lori Matzke<\/a> says professional staging \u201cis shedding new light on how to promote a home… Professional home stagers are practiced in the art of preparing a home for resale. They work with the \u2018flow\u2019 of a home, eliminate clutter, edit and arrange furniture, and even assist in enhancing curb-appeal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Working with your needs and budget, a home stager can:<\/p>\n
- \n
- Consult on the arrangement of what\u2019s already in your rooms<\/li>\n
- Supply just the right props for rooms that are almost show-ready<\/li>\n
- Bring identity to that tricky or undefined space through furniture and accessories<\/li>\n
- Fully furnish an empty home to make it a stunner<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
As top 1% Sacramento real estate agent Elizabeth Weintraub<\/a> poetically expresses it<\/a>, \u201cHome staging is\u2026magical\u2026 the art of creating moods. Professional stagers are highly skilled artists\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"staging](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/apartment-contemporary-decor-1434613-e1549477940875.jpg\")
Source: (Sarah Jane \/ Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n Stager Susan Atwell\u2019s<\/a> story brings the facts into the picture: in 2006 she saw a friend\u2019s \u201cas is\u201d home get no offers in nine months. Then the friend called in a stager:<\/p>\n
\u201cThe total transformation cost less than 1% of the listing price, and once staged, the home proceeded to sell in just 2 months, with multiple offers and the beginnings of a bidding war. At the time the home was listed, there was a 7- month inventory of homes glutting the market.\u201d<\/p>\n
When the Real Estate Staging Association (RESA)<\/a> studied staging results, they found the same thing. Homes that had been on the market an average of 156 days \u201cas is\u201d sold within 42 days after staging, which is 73% less time on the market.<\/p>\n
Homes staged before listing sold 79% faster!<\/p>\n
RESA<\/a> has a Find a Stager tool to connect you.<\/p>\n
Do You Need a Real Estate Photographer for Listing Photos?<\/h2>\n
You have a smartphone, right?<\/p>\n
Wrong. Your house faces competition on those search sites.
\nYou want to show the best features, shot from the best angle (hint: you don\u2019t get that standing in a room with your phone<\/a>). You want photos to be eye-catchers and breath-takers.
\nPhotographer Jay Groccia<\/a> calls great real estate photos \u201cinspirational.\u201d And necessary: \u201cThat was it \u2013 right there \u2013 that was your opportunity to grab that buyer\u2019s attention, and if they clicked back, you\u2019ve lost them forever.\u201d<\/p>\nJohn McBay of Perfect Exposure Imaging agrees, saying it \u201crequires\u2026a keen sense of composition, the skills and equipment to attractively light the interior spaces, cameras and lenses that may be different from one room to the next, and the ability to edit the images to further enhance their appearance…\u201d<\/p>\n
A university study into buyer behavior<\/a> showed that most buyers look at the photos first. A 2010 Redfin study found that listings with professional photographs got 61% more views, and that these houses sold from about $900 up to $18,000 more than homes listed without them. They repeated the study in 2016<\/a> and reached the same conclusion: yes on the professional photos.
\nThe cost varies by area, but the average is 0.09% of the median American house price. Your agent is often the one who hires the photographer for the listing shots. Insist on it.<\/p>\n
- Real Estate Attorney<\/strong><\/li>\n
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