and even the most experienced real estate agents will tell you to be mindful of all of the moving pieces that come with a real estate transaction. More specific to selling, most real estate agents are well-versed in the ins and outs of marketing and closing out a sale. But sometimes sellers do become frustrated with their agents if their home sits on the market too long, sells for a lower price than they were hoping for, or worse, does not sell at all. Here are seven things that your real estate agent should be doing to protect you!
Face-to-Face Meetings
We live in a virtual world, but when it comes to real estate transactions, face-to-face is best. Your real estate agent should set-up a time to meet with you in person to discuss and understand your sales goals. Perhaps you want to sell quickly. Or maybe you need the proceeds from the sale of your home to purchase another one. Your real estate agent needs to be privy to this information to help you determine a course of action like listing aggressively, for example.
Paperwork
There is a lot of paperwork when it comes to a real estate transaction! Your real estate agent should sit down with you and thoroughly explain all listing documents and seller disclosures with you at the time you are signing the listing agreement. And they should have you fill all of them out at this time, too. You can uncover any known facts that might impact value, any issues with title, disclose any and all work that has been done to the property over the years etc. Because I do this in advance, we can take care of any items before we go on the market and avoid any delays or misunderstanding down the line that could impact your transaction.
Schedule a Home Walk-Through
Your real estate agent should be a subject matter expert when it comes to listing your property for sale. While they can use a computer and online programs to look up nearby comps, the best way for them to familiarize themselves with your home is to actually walk through it. They can then help you determine things that need to be done before you list your home for sale.
Maybe there are some critical repairs that buyers should not see or a better way to make a first impression. I have been working in real estate for decades, and I can immediately point out these cosmetic fixes to my clients that I recommend completing before we list. This also includes items that may become dangerous during an open house.
Establish a Punch List of “To-Do” Items
A lot goes into listing a home for sale, and your real estate agent should give you a clear “to-do” list of items that need to be completed. I have been doing this for years, and have a long list of resources that I use to help my clients put their best foot forward when it comes to listing their homes. I assist my clients with getting bids, coordinating appointments, and more, and your real estate agent should be doing the same.
Present a Written Timeline
Selling a home requires a lot of attention to detail, including critical dates like a 30-, 60- or 90-day plan. I love to present this to my clients in writing so they are aware of what is to come and can plan their lives accordingly. There will be open houses (potentially on a set schedule), holidays to plan around, etc., so make sure that your real estate agent presents you with a written timeline of what to expect.
Follow-Up With You After Showings
As a seller, you are undoubtedly going to want feedback from your real estate agent after they have shown your home to potential buyers. Open, honest, and transparent communication will be paramount to a successful sale, and you should be followed up with after every showing. The more that everyone knows, the more efficient a real estate sale can be. In my opinion, this allows sellers to examine the feedback and make any necessary changes to position their home for a quick and successful sale.
Provide a Weekly Marketing Update
What’s working? What’s not? I love giving my clients weekly marketing updates about their property so that they know exactly what me and my team are doing to market their property effectively. Your real estate agent should share this information with you, and keep you apprised of any changes they might be making or are thinking about making. This helps keep everyone on the same page, so there are no misunderstandings.
I am a CA licensed real estate broker and have been helping clients in the Pasadena area for decades, and I am passionate about helping both sellers and buyers with their real estate goals. If you have questions or need assistance with buying or selling a home, please reach out to me! It would be my absolute pleasure to assist you.
