So many factors go into selling your home. And the Denver market is sought after ~ you want to garner the most you can for your home. For example, the house should offer the amenities for which buyers are searching. It must be marketed well, researched and appropriately priced. Fortunately, working with a real estate broker will give you a tremendous boost and minimize the chances of missteps. That is, if you choose your agent wisely by avoiding these five common errors.
1. Using Discount Brokers
Discount real estate brokers are easy to find and they purport to save sellers thousands of dollars by offering lower commissions. That sounds great on the surface, but you get fewer services and much less counseling when you go the discount route. This could cost you in terms of obtaining the most for your home; even in a city like Denver, which is 2016’s top housing market, according to Zillow. Home appreciation rates are soaring, and sellers can get a lot out of their home investment now, but its not just obtaining an offer. Seasoned brokers see you through all of the steps to a successful closing and their negotiating skills can be priceless.
2. Asking the Wrong Questions (Or No Questions)
Many agents market themselves by saying, “I’ve sold X number of homes!” While that figure may sound impressive, you need to ask how many transactions the agent has had and how many of these sales came close to the asking price or exceeded it. These figures give you a better overall picture of an agent’s skills.
3. Going with a Family Member or Friend
Enlisting a relative or pal as your real estate agent is risky. Yes, it works out for a few people, but choose wisely. A professional relationship with your agent helps your sale be successful, and many people are unable to set aside personal issues. A sale that falls through or that comes in far under the asking price can wreck your relationship, too.
4. Interviewing Only One Person
You may have clicked instantly with the first agent you met. Search over, right? Not so fast. After talking with two other agents, you may find that their homes are on the market for significantly fewer days than the initial agent’s homes, or you may discover that they are clueless about the Denver market compared with the first agent. Either way, you have complete confidence that you chose the right person. Talk to your friends that have sold homes and ask for recommendations. Most top tier brokers have large referral based businesses. Clients are happy to sing their praises.
5. Neglecting Background Research
Check out your prospective agents and brokers on platforms such as Facebook and Twitter. Read their blogs (if they have any). Do they sound professional, helpful and knowledgeable? They should!
Bypass the five mistakes above to start your home selling process on the right path.
