Sellers are currently enjoying a vibrant home-buying market. With a crowd full of potential buyers, healthy sales prices, and limited inventory, some sellers find the route from listing to closing to be incredibly short and easy to navigate. But no matter how easy it can be these days to sell your home, enlisting the aid of a great real estate agent will make it even smoother and simpler.
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or are new to the prospect of working with a real estate agent, you can take concrete steps to create a great relationship with your agent and realize all the benefits, including a higher offer, a shorter time to closing, and a better experience all around. Here’s how.
Get Clear on Your Expectations
What do you want and need out of the sale of your home? That’s crucial information for your agent to have. First and foremost, it will help your agent deliver the right buyer for you. It’ll also help your agent help you to manage those expectations. In turn, that helps you identify the right offer when it comes through, instead of holding out for one that’s not likely to manifest.
Be Responsive With Communications
Selling your home sometimes requires quick decisions. If your realtor calls, texts, or sends you an email, get back to them as quickly as you can. Even if you need more time, let your agent know you got the message and when to expect further information.
Do Your Homework
If you’d like to ensure a great working relationship with your realtor, do a little research ahead of time to make sure you’re both speaking the same language. No one expects you to become a real estate or legal expert just to sell your home, least of all your agent. But you can take a few minutes to brush up on the property sale process in your state and basic real estate terms. That will help improve your communication with your agent, which can only help you both work towards a quick closing.
Be Realistic
Yes, it’s a hot market for sellers, and some sellers are getting offers significantly over the listing price within a day or two of hitting the market. That doesn’t necessarily mean you can expect the same. By the same token, your agent can’t promise you a final cash offer that exceeds the home’s value or any other result. Talk to your realtor about similar sales in your area to keep those expectations in check.
Don’t Take Frustrations Out on Your Agent
Even in the best of markets, hiccups and obstacles can occur from time to time. Scolding your real estate agent won’t help matters. Try to see things from your agent’s perspective. They’re not out to prevent a successful closing, after all. They want to deliver a qualified buyer and a quick closing for you. Work with them and stay calm, even when things don’t proceed as you’d prefer. It’s the best way to keep the relationship going strong and ultimately close that sale.
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