Real Estate Key: Talk To A Real Estate Agent When Preparing to Sell
This week I met a potential client who’s considering selling a condo that she and her husband have been renting. It’s a large unit and there’s space to add another bedroom. There’s more than one place this bedroom could go. So, I went to see the unit in-person to get a feel for the space and gave the owner 3 potential options. Then I sent a full market analysis based on the options. I’m going to meet contractors at the property next week to get quotes on the different options to see what the cost will be. After this the potential client will make a decision on whether or not it’s the right time to sell.
As a seller you’re best served by talking to a real estate agent before you think you’re ready to sell (the same thing goes for buyer but that’s a different post). Here’s why:
You can get a professional opinion on what major renovations your should consider that will provide you a return on investment.
A professional real estate agent can tell you what things won’t get you a return on your investment.
There are going to be small things that need to be done. Some of them you know about (like that squeaky door that needs a shot of WD-40). Other’s you don’t know about (the garbage disposal is missing a clamp). A trained professional can point out some of the things you might not have noticed so you can get the small things taken care of before the property goes on the market instead of after the home inspector points them out.
Talk about how to best market your home. It needs a fresh coat of paint. It should be staged. It might need some landscaping. All of these things cost money but will help your home sell quickly and for a higher price. Talking about these things in advance will help you budget for the cost of selling your home.
After talking to a real estate agent, you’ll have a plan to move forward (or not) and the time to get all of the action items executed. If you wait until the week before you’re ready to put your home on the market to talk to an agent, your home could take longer to sell and you might be leaving money on the table because you didn’t put in as much preparation as you could have.
