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Some
things to ask yourself as you view websites:
Do the listings include virtual tours
of homes? This can be a great sales tool, allowing potential buyers a
chance to get a feel for your home before spending time and gas money
on a property tour. At the very least, there should be a number of
good quality interior and exterior photos of the homes they have
listed.
Renters Insurance
Next, check your local area for free
publications. You'll find free real estate publications in
supermarkets or gas stations around town. Pick up as many as you see
and look at them. Which companies are prominently displayed, and which
ones have the most effective ads?
Ask your friends, relatives, and
neighbors about agents they have worked with. Which ones would they
recommend and why? Which ones did they have a negative experience
with? This can be a great tool, because the people you'll be speaking
with have had actual dealings with the agents and companies, so they
can give firsthand accounts of their experiences, good or bad.
Tip!
The other way you save thousands by listing your home on flat fee
MLS listing is that you can avoid paying the local newspaper, real
estate channel on cable, or real-estate papers from your
neighborhood to have your properly listed. Once you are on MLS,
there is no need to worry about other such listings since you may
end up exposed to them anyway.
Once you have a few agencies and
agents in mind, schedule appointments to interview them. You can
generally get a free market analysis at the same time. This will give
you a chance to get a range of suggested selling prices, and it can
also help you weed out those agents who are too far out of line one
way or the other.
Ask each candidate to outline their
proposed sales strategy, including advertising and presentation on the
Internet. Make certain they're members of your local Multiple Listing
Service (MLS), because it remains one of the most powerful sales tools
available. It's important that as many agents know about your home as
possible.
Tip!
It is a fact that you can save thousands by listing your home on
flat fee MLS listings. You can also save money just by the mere fact
that you are selling as owner.
Ask about commission schedules and
listing periods. You want to pay a fair price, but you don't want to
tie your home up with an ineffective agent or company for an undue
amount of time. Find out the average selling time for homes in your
area, and then ask about their particular company's average time. The
two figures should be similar. Ask about open houses, lockboxes, and
how showings will be handled, as well.
Keep an open mind when choosing your
agent and company, and you will be setting yourself up for a quick and
enjoyable sale of your home.
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