Ask these 10 questions to find the best professional to sell your property
The world is full of people who sell real estate. Some of them are smart, efficient, focused, versatile and willing to go the extra mile. And some of them aren't.
Finding an agent who will sell your home using a range of marketing tools to get you the best deal possible in a reasonable amount of time, all while charging a fair rate, takes some effort. Interview at least three candidates before you sign a contract.
Here, are 10 questions you really want to ask so you can identify the best real estate agent to sell your property.
1. How much? Ask potential agents how much they think they can sell your home for. If two agents say $275,000 and the third says $325,000, think hard. It's likely the high bid is an exaggeration to attract your business. In the end, you'll be the one who pays because the high price will scare away potential buyers.
2. How will you market it? Running a few classified ads in the local paper, listing it on the Internet and holding an open house shouldn't be the only answers. The practitioner should have an extensive internet reach.
3. How has your business changed in the last five years? If she doesn't talk about website tours and smart phones, chances are this is not a highly wired agent. And you may cut yourself off from opportunities.
4. Tell me how your last two deals surprised you? Every agent has a success story, but this question will give you a much better feel for what this practitioner is like as a salesperson.
5. What's your specialty? If you're selling a starter home in a community full of young families, hiring an agent who specializes in seniors is probably a bad idea. It doesn't mean that if he only sells condos that he can't sell a house, but he may not be geared up to do the best job.
6. How many people are you selling homes for right now and what are you doing for them? It may not be a bad thing that a high-powered agent is juggling 15 homes, but don't expert her to give you personal service, although her assistant should be attentive. On the other hand, be wary of an agent with no other customers because she may lack experience and contacts.
7. What do you expect of me? A good salesperson will have expectations. He may want you to leave and take the dog when the house is shown, paint the garage, move some furniture around and scrub the tile in the bathroom. It shows that he can think like a buyer and that's a good thing.
8. What advice would you have for me if I get an offer from a buyer who wants to use an FHA loan? FHA, VA, State and locally managed loan assistance programs can be key to selling a property. Real estate agents shouldn't be pushing buyers toward their favorite lenders, but they should be able to help them and you wade through complex financing issues.
9. What's your fee? Discount agents offer discount services. Be sure you get what you pay for.
10. Can I talk to one of your previous clients? You never know.
(from FrontDoor.com)
Are you behind on your mortgage payments and need a way out? We can help. Ashort sale might be the answer. Short sales occur when borrowers sell their properties for less than the amount owed to the lender.
Do you know a homeowner facing Foreclosure? Here's a way out. -- SHORT SALE
Headlines today are filled with stories about homeowners in financial distress--people who face a lender's foreclosure on their home.
Millions of American home owners are wondering what to do.
Like most crises, this one has produced its share of rumors and misinformation. One of the biggest ones is ?just let it happen." Why fight back, this line of thinking goes. It?s too emotionally draining, and the government?s loan modifications aren?t helping many people. Well, that?s only partly true.
While government loan modification programs have fallen short of the mark so far, there is another solid, sensible option for homeowners. It?s called a short sale?a sale to a buyer where the seller?s lender agrees to accept less than the full amount owned.
Why not be foreclosed? Why sell short? Agents who have closed hundreds of these transactions provide this list of reasons:
Avoid the foreclosure stigma--Homeowners will always have to disclose that they had a foreclosure on any mortgage application and (many job applications) that they submit in the future. This can have an adverse affect on their future mortgage rates. Foreclosure is asked about specifically in credit inquiries. There is no seven year time limit on this item.
Protect the credit score--Credit scores will be lowerd by 300-plus points (per loan) by foreclosure. The impact of a short sale--about half that much.
Improve eligibility for a government insured loan--The homeowner will be ineligible for a government insured loan for 5-7 years (only two years in a short sale). A foreclosure is the one credit report item that is almost impossible to have repaired.
Avoid a deficiency judgment--Lenders can seek a deficiency judgment against the homeowner and collect any amount they do not recover at sale.
Protect employment prospects--Many employers run credit checks on prospective employees. Foreclosure is one of the top items that will put a potential new hire, or even current employment, in jeopardy.
These are the top reasons, but there are more. An expert short sale specialist agent can give a full picture of the options.
One more tip. Don?t believe everything you read about how long short sales take and how few get finalized. Short sale timelines, while still longer than normal, are shrinking as lenders get their paperwork act together. Find out who the top short sale agents are in your market. These pros are closing 70 to 90 percent of the short sales they represent?more than three times the national average. They know where to find buyers, and how to negotiate the buyer?s offer effectively with lenders and get the deal closed?so the homeowner can move on with life and recover.
