Shared by Donna Templeton, Howard Hanna Real Estate from HowardHanna.com/blog
By now, you’re probably heard about the real estate market this year – possibly from friends and family who are frustrated and desperate when looking for a home! When inventory is scarce and bidding wars common, it can be a challenging time to purchase a home. However, if you’ve ever considered selling your home, now may be a great time to make the move!
If you’re thinking about listing your home, you’re probably already aware that you’ll likely be able to sell your home more quickly and for more money. You might even be thinking, “Why should I work with an agent? If I’m going to make money anyway, what’s the point?”
There are endless reasons why you’d want to work with a real estate agent, but some are especially critical in today’s market. Before you list your home for sale, make sure you know the benefits of working with a real estate agent in a seller’s market.
Negotiating Power
By now, you’ve probably heard about bidding wars (possibly even from those same friends or family looking to buy a home right now). But do you know about the challenges of working with multiple offers on your home? Negotiation is an art, and done right, will make sure that you get the highest profit on your home. If you opt not to use an agent, it is very likely that you won’t make as much money on your property.
Top real estate agents understand how to help their clients get the most money during negotiations. They are able to skillfully navigate prospective buyers’ emotions, work with multiple offers effectively, and know how to use timing to your advantage. Ultimately, you want a skilled negotiator on your side! They’ll be able to help put more money in your pocket.
Strong Home Selling Knowledge
When you’re planning to sell your home, you’ll likely want to make some updates to yield the most money for your property. Do you know which updates to make to ensure a great ROI? And do you know which ones you can skip? While there are some generally good tips for updating your home to sell, this will vary by property. Perhaps, in your neighborhood, you really do need to ensure the floors are refinished – but in other neighborhoods, this may not matter.
Real estate agents spend all of their time touring and learning about homes and neighborhoods. They understand which updates you can make to net the most money, and can also help you avoid a costly mistake! You may not have to replace your roof or paint the inside of your home all-white.
Your real estate agent is also your local expert. They can connect you with attorneys, mortgage representatives, and more. They have big networks of trusted professionals and can help you coordinate between different people. For example, coordinating a closing date or getting a mortgage commitment from your buyer can be made much easier with an agent. Don’t wreck all the hard work of selling your home with a surprise just before closing!
Marketing Your Home Effectively
Real estate agents have access to a wide variety of marketing options that they can use to put your home in front of buyers. They do things like…
- Pay for digital and print advertising to promote your home
- Share photos on social media to create a buzz around your house
- Host open houses and broker’s tours to show off your property
Good agents can also offer additional word-of-mouth marketing because they’re so well-connected within your community. This helps give your home additional exposure…simply because you picked the right agent!
The bigger your agent’s network is, the more likely it is that they’ll be able to market your home via word-of-mouth and bring in qualified buyers who are a great fit for your home. When your agent has a network of prospective buyers, it means a higher potential for more interest in your property, which translates into more money in your pocket! Howard Hanna agents have powerful networks and plenty of options for identifying buyers who are already working with a Howard Hanna agent, so you know they’re interested in actually making a purchase.
Real Estate Agents Do the Work
Hiring a real estate agent means you can take the load off your shoulders! Why not let a professional schedule showings, handle inspection contingencies, ensure that your buyers have a mortgage commitment, etc?
Even if your home sells extremely quickly, there’s still an enormous amount of follow up needed to ensure that you get to the closing table – not to mention the paperwork! Howard Hanna agents are here to do that work for you, helping to make the process of selling your home a smooth, easy, and financially successful one.