Reasons to sell with a Royal LePage real estate agent
As you prepare to sell your house and interview prospective agents, you may find yourself wondering: just what exactly does a real estate agent do, anyway?
Sure, you see the lawn signs and the MLS listings, but do you know all they do to earn their commission?
At a basic level, a good real estate agent will save you time and money. They know your community, what buyers want in a house, how to negotiate house prices and how to close the deal.
Your Royal LePage agent will take care of all that and a whole lot more. In every real estate transaction, the number of things to do, know and remember can be daunting. Listed below are the ways your Royal LePage agent will help you get the best price for your home, all the while saving you time and worry.
Your Royal LePage real estate agent can do the following (where applicable):
- Order a complete property profile of your house
- Perform a professional "Competitive Housing Market Analysis"
- Review "Total Market Overview" with sellers
- Create a customized market plan that targets your most likely buyers
- Develop a specialized pricing strategy for your property
- Calculate an estimate of your net proceeds from the sale
- Tour your property from the buyer's standpoint
- Conduct a complete staging analysis of your house
- Provide instructions to help your house sell at a higher price
- Review the interior of the house to maximize attractiveness
- Integrate photos into marketing materials
- Develop "soon to be available" postcards
- Review the status of any property tax liens against the property
- Obtain copies of permits relative to the property
- Accurately measure the house
- Develop advertising copy for marketing
- Place house description in the Multiple Listing System (MLS listings)
- Provide a "Real Estate Relationships Disclosure"
- Provide a copy of the "Real Estate Consumers Guide"
- Assist with the completion of an exclusive listing agreement
- Assist in completion of the "Agency Agreement Addendum"
- Review flood disclosures, if required
- Review lead paint disclosure requirements
- Review "Competitive Housing Market Analysis"
- Explain commission splits between listing and selling brokers
- Provide marketing guarantee to seller
- Review benefits and drawbacks of using real estate lock box
- Arrange for pest control inspection of the house
- Arrange for contractor's inspection of the house
- Arrange for roof report of the house, as necessary
- Arrange for septic tank inspection
- Arrange for county inspection
- Prepare seller's disclosure statement
- Place professional For Sale sign on property, as authorized
- Directly contact other real estate agents with qualified buyers about the property
- Respond to real estate agent questions about the property
- Respond to buyer questions about the property
- Develop a convenient open house schedule with owner or tenants
- Hold public open house viewings as warranted
- Conduct telephone cold calls to target market, as necessary
- Order professional photos of the property to be taken for online listings
- Conduct door-knocking campaign in neighbourhood, as appropriate
- Prepare just-listed postcards for potential buyers
- Follow up with potential buyers from open house
- Arrange for a tour of the property for all real estate agents in the area
- Obtain other real estate agents' opinions of home pricing strategy
- Provide weekly status report to seller by phone or in person
- Review local news sources for changes in neighbourhood
- Send thank-you notes to real estate agents who show the property
- Review the financial impact of any purchase offers with seller
- Negotiate and write counter offers, as necessary
- Make sure escrow is open in a timely manner
- Make sure initial deposit is placed into escrow in a timely manner
- Make sure deposit increases are placed into escrow on time
- Make sure buyer applies for a loan within contracted period
- Provide access to property for inspectors, as necessary
- Make sure seller places all necessary documents
- Assist seller in transferring utilities to home buyer
- Assist seller in moving to a new residence
- Provide keys to home buyer
- Review closing statement with sellers
- Deliver proceeds cheque to sellers
Courtesy of: http://www.royallepage.ca/en/realestateguide/selling/listing/how-agents-help.aspx