How a Real Estate Agent Should Sell Your Home

Our marketing plan is a proven method to get you a fair price for your home or vacant land. Unlike most listing agents who work solely with sellers, we have worked with buyers and sellers. So, we understand what buyers are looking for, how buyers look for property, and what buyers expect during the negotiating process. To sell a home, your real estate agent should follow these steps:

Prepare a CMA: The most important part of selling a home is pricing it. An overpriced listing will generally not sell, regardless of how much it is advertised. Get your property ready for showings: Your agent should walk through your house with you and help you get it ready for showings. Usually little needs to be done to a home; but, if you can make it show well, it will be more attractive to home buyers and it may even result in a higher selling price. A good first impression is very important for potential home buyers.

Place your home on the MLS: The MLS (Multiple Listing Service) features almost all of the properties for sale in the Charleston area. More than 7,000 real estate agents in the Charleston area use the MLS to find properties that are for sale. Plus, many websites allow potential home buyers to access the MLS. Putting your home on the MLS is a great way for real estate agents and home buyers to get information about and see pictures of your house any time they want.

Market your home on the Internet: Eight out of ten buyers use the Internet to search for properties. Your real estate agent should make your home accessible on every Charleston real estate website that has access to the Charleston MLS.

Prepare custom flyers for your home: Your agent should place these flyers inside your house as well as in a weather-safe box in your yard. Doing this will allow potential buyers to take the flyers with them, regardless of whether they have a showing appointment. These flyers will have all of the information regarding your home plus several color photographs.

Put up signs: Your agent should put a very visible sign in your yard with his or her contact information and the logo for the company he or she works for. Your agent should also place signs on the way in to your neighborhood to direct real estate agents as well as potential home buyers looking on their own to your home.

Mail Just Listed postcards: Your agent should mail these cards to your neighborhood (and sometimes your surrounding neighborhoods) to inform neighbors that your house is for sale.

Keep in contact with you: Your agent should contact you regularly to keep you updated on the number of showings he or she has scheduled and to give you any feedback from other agents and their buyers.

Ensure the buyer is qualified: Your agent should make sure that potential buyers are qualified by a mortgage company to purchase property in the price range of your home.

Present offers: Your agent should contact you when he or she receives any offer for your home.

Negotiate offers: It is better to avoid dual agency (when an agent represents both the buyer and the seller). Your agent needs to work for you and only you. He or she should negotiate offers you receive on your behalf so that you get a fair price for your home with terms you are pleased with.

Finalize your closing: Your agent should be actively involved in your closing and should work with you closely to ensure that your home closes smoothly.

About the author:
Lee Keadle is a full-time real estate agent in Charleston, SC. He works with a team of three agents to give buyers and sellers the best services possible. You can visit http://www.SearchForCharlestonRealEstate.com to search for homes and vacant land in Charleston, SC.

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