My home selling advice is to first protect your negotiating position before interviewing real estate agents to list your home for sale.
Home Selling Advice
Protect all private and confidential information about you and your home to maintain your negotiating position. Wait until you’ve formally hired a Home Listing Agent before sharing confidential information with any real estate agents.
Protect Your Negotiating Position
For example, do NOT discuss the following with anyone until you’ve hired the Home Listing Agent to represent you:
- Reasons for selling your home
- Time frame desired or urgency to sell
- Willingness to consider offers at certain prices
- Financing terms you would be willing to accept
- Personal property you may be willing to include in the sale
- Details or terms of a company relocation or employment package
- Personal, financial or confidential Information of any kind
I strongly recommend these details remain private from neighbors, colleagues, and casual friends until your home is ready for the market. When in doubt, “Mum’s the word”!
Do Your Homework First
Before selecting which real estate agents to interview, prepare a basic list of home details that is simple yet informative. For example, list the type of roof, mechanical systems, and kitchen appliances. Include the age of the roof, systems, and appliances if you know the age for certain. Equally helpful is a list of home improvements completed during your ownership with a basic description and the year completed.
A basic list of home details will ensure all agents interviewed receive the same information; but more importantly it will save a great deal of time. Keep the interview with each agent primarily focused upon the agent’s experience, local market knowledge, and home selling services.
Interview Several Agents
Many real estate agents like to claim they work in a large number of local markets. Therefore, be very selective and choose an agent who demonstrates intimate market knowledge and experience selling homes successfully in your neighborhood, city, or town.
Take time to thoroughly research real estate agents before speaking with them and inviting them into your home. Do not hesitate to ask for references from past clients and real estate industry professionals. Ask agents to provide detailed statistics about recent home sale results. You will benefit greatly by knowing the average days to offer and the average sale price to original price ratio for exclusive listings.
Listen to your instincts. If you do not gain confidence after an interview, keep searching to find the most qualified agent who not only instills confidence in their home selling skills but also their ability to help meet your goals.
Home Selling Advice Massachusetts
To learn more about my Home Listing Agent services to sell your home, contact me to schedule a Home Seller Consultation.
Tamela Roche CRS® Certified Residential Specialist
Tamela Roche CLHMS® Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist
