Information for Sellers
Selling your home doesn't have to be difficult. With RealtySnap, it's simple. Our highly-trained agents make it their business to throughly understand your market. They are equipped with the most advanced digital resources to help you sell your home quickly, and on your terms. They are always available and will keep you in-the-loop every step of the way.
Choose a RealtySnap agent to help you sell your home today!
Real Answers to Real Estate Questions
What's Customary when selling lots?
Question (TX): I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. My wife and I own three 2-acre lots in a gated community in Texas. The broker we are thinking of listing them with to sell is asking for an 8% commission and wants a six month exclusive on the listing. Is either of these two things out of line?
What, if anything, is customary for the local area? Please comment; we are new at this and don't want to make a mistake from which we might not recover. Help!
Answer: The amount of commission charged and the length of time required to sell a property is entirely up to the broker and/or the broker’s agent to determine. We suggest - if you haven’t already done this, that you contact two or three additional brokerage firms with successful experience in marketing comparable properties to yours. Always check on the broker’s experience and knowledge of the marketplace. That way you’ll be making an informed decision.
Posted November 7, 2009, 12:12pm.
Where can a little re-do money make the most difference?
A little money and a lot of elbow grease, well-applied, can do wonders. And it all starts in one particular room.
For a lot of reasons your kitchen deserves a really critical look and a significant portion of your re-do budget. You don’t have to spend thousands to make it attractive.
The first step is easy to guess. Reduce the clutter! Buyers will peer into your cabinets, your appliances, your utensil drawers, even the junk drawer that every kitchen grows! You have to organize it anyway before you move, so do it before the first prospects see it and wonder if your kitchen has enough storage space for their needs.
And while you’re organizing, clean, clean, and clean some more! Don’t forget the knobs and light switches!
What have you spent so far? Just some elbow grease. Now look at the kitchen. Does it need a fresh coat of paint? Do the faucets, the cabinet pulls, the burner pans need replacing? Be critical. And be sure and ask your Realtor to be critical, too. This is not the time to be sensitive!
Posted September 6, 2009, 7:39pm.
How should I react if my agent brings me a "low ball" offer?
In every market, there are buyers who make offers well below the market price. Here's how we suggest you approach these offers.
In a strong Seller's market, if your home is priced well, you may be able to reject the offer and be reasonably confident that a better one will follow. In a buyers' market, however, that luxury may not exist.
Try to get an idea of the buyer's overall strategy, and ask your agent for advice. Are there ways to close the gap with a small owner take-back, or with terms that will increase your bottom line? It may be necessary to take a hard look at your asking price. If your price is on the high side, the offer may not be that unreasonable.
We recommend that you don't "just say no" to a low offer until you have explored all the options. RealtySnap agents have many years of experience in evaluating offers and in bringing together willing Buyers and Sellers. That's what we all want, isn't it?
Posted September 6, 2009, 7:34pm.
My home is my castle. Can I insist on not having a lockbox and on having 24 hours notice on showings?
You don't have to give up your comfort and privacy to sell your house. Your Realtor can help make it easier for you.
It is your castle, afterall, and you can pull up the drawbridge if you like. It all depends on how seriously you want to sell. If you need or seriously want to sell a commodity on the open market, then you want as many prospects as possible to have the chance to see it. Ask your Realtor to demonstrate his/her lockbox to allay your worries.
Keep your castle ready at a moment’s notice for a visit from royalty: A Potential Buyer. Never say “no” to a showing. Always allow a lockbox where a co-operating agent can find it. And always make sure that your doorknobs and locks work smoothly and easily.
Posted September 6, 2009, 7:31pm.