If you are planning on selling your home, you know we are in a seller’s market, with a record low supply of homes for sale. Many homes get multiple offers or sell above the asking price in record time.
So, with homes selling so quickly, does it really matter what type of Realtor you use? Yes!
In just the past couple of weeks, I have had several experiences while showing homes and meeting other Realtors that I felt I had to share. Hopefully, sharing these experiences will help sellers understand why choosing the right Realtor can have a big impact on the sale and the closing process of their home.
When you have such a strong seller’s market, you not only get homeowners who think they don’t need to have a top Realtor to market their home, you also get some Realtors who think the same way. So, we see listings with poor photo quality and little marketing.
I showed one just the other day that was priced at a million dollars. It was a vacant home, no lights were on, it smelled musty, drapes and blinds were closed, and it had not been cleaned for a while. When I did turn the lights on, some of the light bulbs were burned out, several walls and ceilings were painted in dark burgundy, making the home seem extra dark, and it was hard to even see the elegant architectural details. There was no staging and there were large nail holes on the empty walls.
The home showed so badly my clients walked in and walked out immediately. However, I could see that with a little paint, cleaning, and staging, the home would have showed very differently. That home is still sitting on the market – unsold – in the hottest market we have seen since 2005.
When I was at one of my open houses last week, a Realtor entered with her client. I discovered that the Realtor who was showing the home would not actually be the Realtor who would write the offer for the clients. I found out that part time or retired agents were paid for each home they showed. The agent who wrote the offer neither saw the property nor met the clients, and the team who handled the inspection process didn’t see the home or meet the clients they were negotiating for either.
I share these stories because I approach real estate from a completely different perspective. I help my clients manage every detail of their transactions from painting and cleaning to marketing and staging. I pride myself on the expert promotion of my listings and actively work to negotiate the best deals for my clients. I truly care about my clients and their well-being, and I work to help relieve the stresses of moving and selling.
As a full-service top agent, I strive to offer the best service to my clients, and I am there to help guide and advocate for my clients from the first time we meet to the day we close and beyond. I absolutely love what I do and there is nothing more rewarding than doing what you love.
I am sure you are receiving calls and texts to sell your home. I am sure your social media feeds are filled with ads for discount brokers, real estate teams and more. But before you hire a Realtor to help you sell your home, be sure you really know what you are getting.
Will your agent spend time helping you expertly prepare your home for sale? Will the agent handle your transaction from start to finish? How much experience does that agent have with multiple offers, bidding wars, and marketing in today’s hot market and amid the pandemic? Do they answer their phones at night and on the weekends? Do they have the experience to advocate for you when issues arise?
I would be happy to help you sell your home and provide a complimentary consultation to discuss getting your home ready, your home value, and the best marketing plan for today’s market.
Please reach out to me anytime to set up an appointment, or if I can help answer any questions you may have.
Lorraine is a Multi-Million Dollar producing agent, has been a full-time Realtor for over 13 years, is an Associate Broker of KOR Properties, a Certified Negotiation Specialist, and is on the Professional Standards Board. You can reach Lorraine at (602) 571-6799.