A real estate agent for a seller, often referred to as a seller's agent, performs many functions, including helping you organize your house for sale, set the right price, determine a selling strategy, and negotiate with buyers. This article covers the roles and responsibilities of a seller's agent and what qualities to look for, so you will know how to select the right real estate agent to sell your home.
What is the Sellers' Agent?
A seller's agent represents the seller during the course of selling their property. Seller's agent is the same as a listing agent, and both terms can be used interchangeably.
Listing Consultation
When you are selling your house, the first meeting that you have with a real estate agent is usually known as a listing consultation. During the consultative session, your agent will look at your property and learn more about your aims for selling. They will discuss your home's selling features with you, and suggest improvements that could lift your price.
They will also do a comparative market analysis (CMA), which looks at comparable homes that have sold nearby, to help figure out what your home is worth in the current market and recommend a price to you. A good seller's agent should also bring a marketing strategy to help you realize that price.
Roles of a Listing Agent in Selling a Home
1. Prepare Your Home to Sell
A listing agent with lots of experience will know how to maximize your property value so you can receive top cash for your home. They will be able to figure out which updates you should make to your home to increase its selling price. They will also be able to suggest service providers such as an inspector, handyman, painter, landscaper, stager, etc., who will provide great value and high quality at a reasonable price.
2. Stage Your Home to Sell
Preparing your home is an art. Staging is different from decorating and requires the attention of a professional, especially if you want to make the most out of your sale price. They understand that proper preparation prevents poor performance. Your agent will help you stage your home so that it makes the best first impression among potential buyers. A well-staged home can wow buyers from the time they look at the listing photos, to the moment they walk in the door.
3. Hire An Expert Listing Photographer
An expert real estate agent will assist you in organizing professional photographers, or may even have one as part of the service. Once the home is prepared and staged, it will be ready for a photo shoot. The photographer will also perform a 3D scan of your house so that buyers can view it from every angle online. Many buyers who are not resident in the state or the country would want to have a 3D Walk-through of your house before they spend their time and money to tour it in-person.
These are essential roles real estate agents perform for the seller during the sale of a property. So when you are hiring an agent, don't be afraid to tap into their expertise and learn as much as you can from them.
Planning a move is not a decision made quickly - even if you are moving just some streets away from your present location. It requires a detailed arrangement followed to the letter. Poor planning gives rise to poor calculation and poor execution. As soon as you are sure of a relocation, the earlier you began to make plans – the more comfortable the whole process would be for you.
Planning a move is like trying to solve a puzzle – every piece must be at the right place to ensure you achieve your big picture. If you miss a step in your relocation process or you forget to schedule a stage at the right time, you might end up messing things up and having a disorganized relocation. To help you plan your relocation move, consider the steps below.
Determine Your Moving Timeline
Before you start making your moving preparation, the first thing to do is to ascertain how much time you have before the move. Doing this would help you make your plans and execute them within the time frame. Even if you have a busy schedule, taking an hour or two out of each day to plan and organize would go a long way.
Prepare Your Moving Materials
Moving materials like boxes, tapes, old newspaper, etc. are some of the items you can get for free from your grocery store. Other things you might need for relocation – you can get from friends and family members.
Determine Your Budget for The Move
To ensure you don't spend beyond what you can afford, draw out a budget plan. Relocation most times require much money, especially if you are relocating to a long distance. If you are getting assistance from work, ensure you document every amount spent. Determining your budget would give you an idea of how much you can spend on various moving activities.
Ditch Your Junk
Moving with all your belongings would cost you a fortune, and it's not a wise decision. You do not possibly use all the things you possess and even if you did, not as often as others. Planning a move is the best time for you to be brutal with your luggage selection. Pack only items of necessity and family heirlooms you cannot afford to part with – other things you can give to charity or sell.
Determine What to Sell
Items that don't make it into your relocating list; you can sell or give to charity. You can decide on what to sell by determining what is essential to you in your new location. Whatever doesn't fit into these criteria – put up for sale. The money generated from selling some of your belongings might come in handy.
Compare Moving Fee Quotes
If you would need the service of a moving company, ensure you get quotes from more than one moving company – this helps you compare prices.Planning your relocation makes it easier to move without hassles. Ensure you hire a quality moving company to help you get to your new home safely.
The definition of a "dream house" varies from homebuyer to homebuyer. Fortunately, there are many things you can do to determine if a residence is right for you.
Now, let's take a look at three tips to help you evaluate a home so you can decide whether to proceed with an offer to purchase.
1. Review a Home's Features
Think about why you are searching for a home and what you want to find in a house. For example, if you require a home that features a deluxe kitchen, you can narrow your house search accordingly. On the other hand, if you want a home that boasts an above-ground swimming pool, you can focus on houses that offer this amenity.
Consider where you want to reside too. That way, you can hone your home search to a select group of cities and towns and find a residence that is located in one of your preferred locations.
2. Examine a Home's Price
The cost of a home depends on a number of factors, including the residence's age and condition. Of course, the housing market itself plays an important role in a house's cost as well, so you'll want to examine the real estate sector closely. By doing so, you can differentiate a buyer's market from a seller's market – or vice-versa – and determine if a home's price falls within your budget.
In a buyer's market, there may be an abundance of quality houses available at budget-friendly prices. If you shop for a home in a buyer's market, you may be able to purchase a house at or below a seller's initial asking price.
Comparatively, in a seller's market, there is a shortage of premium houses, and top-notch homes that become available may be in high demand. In a seller's market, you may need to act fast to acquire your dream home. Plus, you may need to submit an offer to purchase that exceeds a seller's initial asking price so you can purchase your ideal residence without delay.
3. Consult with a Real Estate Agent
A real estate agent is a home selling expert, and he or she is happy to help you weigh the pros and cons of buying a house. In fact, a real estate agent will go the extra mile to ensure you can make the best-possible decisions throughout the property buying journey.
With a real estate agent at your side, you can receive lots of support so you can enjoy a seamless homebuying experience. A real estate agent first will learn about you and your homebuying goals and help you search for a residence that matches your expectations. Next, a real estate agent will help you craft a competitive offer to purchase your dream home. And if your homebuying proposal is approved, a real estate agent will help you finalize your house purchase.
Use the aforementioned tips, and you should have no trouble deciding if a house is right for you.
Getting a dog is a fun and exciting new addition to your life. Deciding you want a dog is pretty easy. They're cute and cuddly, loving and fun, what more is there to know? When it comes to choosing the dog you're going to take it home; it's not always so easy. Taking the time to select the right dog for you is the best decision you can make for you and him. It's essential to review lifestyle, needs, and home to ensure you select the right pet. Here are some basic but probing questions to ask yourself before you head over to the local animal shelter.
Have you cared for a dog before?
If you’re new to dog ownership you might not be considering, all the factors that go into your dog's care. Take a few moments to do a little research and reading about pet ownership and care to get a clear understanding of the commitment you'll be making. A dog will require your time and attention and will affect scheduling and traveling in your life. If you previously owned a dog think back to that time and what was needed from you to care for it. You might even already have a dog, or two. Consider if you have enough to give an additional animal the care they need.
How much free time do you have to devote to your pet?
Examine your lifestyle and determine how much time you can devote to your dog. If you can't find enough time in your schedule to walk your dog or play with your new pet multiple hours a day, you should avoid adopting a high energy breed. On the other hand, you might love taking walks and already lead an active outdoor life so adding an active dog to your lifestyle fits nicely. If your schedule doesn't permit enough time to do a lot of training with your pet, you might not be ready at this time to adopt a difficult rescue dog or potty train a brand-new pup. Consider adopting a young (3-6mo old) female dog in a small to medium-sized breed. You might find a long-haired Border Collie or Palmerian beautiful, but do you have enough time to manage all that hair? Your pet should be a positive, comforting and fun addition to your life and each dog requires a different commitment to the next. Whether it’s time spent playing and wearing the dog out, brushing hair or rehabilitating a traumatized animal find a dog that is the right commitment for you.
Does your home have a yard?
How much space in your home do you have for a dog? You might have a huge yard that is just perfect for a large active dog. The same dog might not be so happy in your downtown studio apartment. Especially if your available time for walks and play is limited (see above). Read about the different breeds of dogs you’re considering or have noted as cute and learn what space requirements they have, outdoor and indoor. If your dog is going to be an indoor pet consider how much space you have inside for them, a small dog can run around and play indoors much better than a large breed. Finally, make a note of any changes you need to make to make your home pet-friendly — furniture arrangements, breakables, expensive rugs, etc.
Do you have children?
What are their dispositions and ability to pitch in and help?If you have children, you’ll need to consider their contribution to and experience of the dog's life as well. What are their ages, interest level and ability to help care for the animal? Find a pup that your kids can play with and help train and teach them how to take care of a pet of their own properly.
What amount from your budget can you invest in your dog?
Finally, consider what amount of money you can afford to put into the dog's care. Larger breeds eat more food and will affect your monthly budget. If you need to groom and board your dog frequently for work travel or take them to doggie care daily run the numbers on possible costs to make sure, you’ll be able to sustain your commitment to your animal.
If owning a dog indeed is important to you make it a priority during your next home search so you can find the right space for you and your future best friend.
If you missed the first part of this series, it’s important to note that green living and protecting the environment is the responsibility of everyone who lives here. With resources becoming less available, cutting down on usage, reducing waste and reusing anything where possible can all lead to a longer lasting green environment. Going green doesn’t have to be expensive, add these three new hacks to the original set and start saving the planet and money today!
Reduce the Amount of Waste Generated from Your Home
Waste accounts for a more significant percentage of both land and water pollutants. With tons of waste generated daily, the number exceeds the recyclable amount. Instead of creating more waste, why not use green-living alternatives for your daily activities? Plastics, for example, are a non-biodegradable waste. No wonder surface waters harbor trillions of plastics every year. To combat this problem, you could opt for tote bags for all your shopping errands in the stead of plastic bags. Also, a durable water bottle is a great option to replace plastic bottled water.
Natural Materials are Just as Beautiful.
New homeowners or old homeowners looking to make a new purchase for their home décor can opt for natural materials. They are just as beautiful! Thanks to the sustainable living movement, natural materials such as terracotta flooring, wooden furniture, marble countertops, etc. are now the go-to interior design choice for most homeowners. What’s more? These materials are less expensive, and they last for an extended period. You would end up saving the environment and a little extra cash for other errands. Go natural!
Plants can Grow Inside Too.
An excellent way to clear the air inside your home is to grow plants such as Boston ferns, palm trees, spider plants, and rubber plants indoors. Plants are natural air filters. They help clear the air while also absorbing harmful pollutants from your electronic equipment, furniture, and carpets. Let the plants come inside!
Going green in your home does not involve putting out tons of dollars or putting up with an outdated lifestyle. A little change in your daily routine has a role or two to play in sustaining the environment. Employ these little green living hacks to help you revamp your home into ‘home green home’ today. Go green, save the planet!
If you’re looking for a home with built-in green qualities, contact your local real estate professional today.
