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| Five Things To Do Before You Sell Your Home |
1. Surf the Internet.
A NAR survey found a twelve-fold rise in the number of Internet
home shoppers during the previous three years. Services found at
http://Domania.com like "Home
Price Check" and "Value Check" will help you assess your
property's value, using many of the same tools (comps) as a
REALTOR® does. There are plenty of other real estate sites worth
checking out. However, not all real estate sites are created
equally, so surf wisely.
2. Determine the "right" time to sell.
Spring and fall are usually the hottest home-shopping periods,
but the downside is that a glut of products makes it hard |
for
yours to stand out. While your location can be a factor (i.e.,
it's easier to sell a Los Angeles home in the winter), some
elements of timing remain constant. For instance, the last week
of December may never be a good time to show your house. Most
REALTORS® have been through years of real estate sales and can
provide overview and advice that's worth listening to.
3. Decide whether you will conduct a "FSBO" (for sale by owner),
buy new construction or hire a real estate agent.
It used to be thought that selling your own home could save you
thousands in commissions (about 5% to 7% of the sale price).
Nowadays, brokerages featuring MLS listings and |
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new construction
are offering cash-back incentives and rebates that have blunted
the appeal of the 'go it alone' route. According to the National
Association of Realtors, more than half of the people who do
sell their home themselves say they would not do it again.
4. If you hire a real estate agent, do so thoughtfully.
Interview several candidates and check references. The National
Association of Realtors (NAR) suggests that you ask prospective
agents to create a comparative market analysis a marketing
profile, and a suggested list price for your home. You might
also want to compare REALTORS®
5. Consider MLS Listings.
Many folks |
just starting out may think a "For Sale" sign on the
lawn will do the trick, but MLS Data (multiple listing service),
which is collected by real estate agents around the country,
provides your listing to thousands of people you'd never reach
using just off-line techniques like newspaper ads. MLS data is
fairly comprehensive, but keep in mind that not all MLS are the
same. In fact, neighboring real estate franchises have
occasionally been known to feature conflicting information.
About the author:
The editorial staff of Domania lives and breathes home values.
Find more advice and real estate tools at http://www.domania.com
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