You have to decide how to sell your home.You'll need to list your home since it's in your best interest to spread the word.The Multiple Listing Service is a nationwide database of houses for sale.Most people don't use a real estate agent to list their home.If you want to avoid paying an agent the 6% commission that is common in home sales, there are more ways than ever to do it.
Step 1: Ask people you know.
The most effective way of listing a house is to contract with a real estate agent, who will take care of the entire listing process for you.Not only can your real estate agent help you price the house and schedule showings, but they are also connected with other agents and can sell houses full time.The first thing you should do when looking for a real estate agent is ask your friends and neighbors who they've used in the past with success, because there are many things to consider.Ask any new neighbors about the real estate agents they used.A real estate agent with experience in a particular market is a plus.They know the kinds of buyers to look for, market trends, and the best price points to start a listing.
Step 2: There are references from recent clients.
Ask the real estate agent you're considering to give you a list of recent clients so you can get to know them better.The clients don't have reason to lie about their experience with the real estate agent.One area where quantity can give you an idea of quality is this one.If a real estate agent has been in the business for a while, they should be able to give you as many references as you want.
Step 3: Pull a record of their licenses.
Real estate agents are bound by a code of ethics like many other professionals.There will be a record of the offense if the prospective real estate agent has been sanctioned by any licensing bodies.If you're thinking about contracting with a real estate agent, make sure to check out their past.Each state has a licensing body for agents.You can use your favorite search engine to find the one for your state.The information needed to look up a violation may vary from state to state, but as a rule of thumb, get the real estate agent's name and license number.There areDisciplinary actions against real estate agents in California at http://www.dre.ca.gov/Licensees/EnforcementActions.html.
Step 4: Pay attention to your credentials.
Credentials matter.Real estate agents can become specialists in certain areas just like a doctor or a lawyer.Some real estate agents are better at representing buyers than others.You can find a listing of the various specialties at theNAR website.Consider hiring a real estate professional.A sign that the agent is a member of the National Association of Realtors is the trademarked name.
Step 5: Ask about your experience.
Experience isn't a perfect indicator of competence, but it is a factor you should consider.Ask your real estate agent how long they've been in business and make sure you're comfortable with the answer.Five years of experience is enough to have learned the ins and outs of the business, but your mileage may vary.Some agents will learn quickly.There are two levels of real estate licenses in most states.The higher level is called a broker.It takes a few years to get to the upper level.If you see someone who has only been a managing broker for a year, remember that they have at least 3 years of experience.
Step 6: Look at their website.
Most people who purchase real estate these days begin their search on the web, and no one needs to understand this more than your prospective agent.If you want to make a commitment, check out their listings online.You can find the agent's online listings at https://www.realestateagent.com.
Step 7: Make sure the agent knows what's going on.
Ask your prospective agent about market trends, the asking and selling prices of comparable houses in the area, and how long homes in your area are staying on the market.These types of questions are easy to answer.They need to answer these questions in order to demonstrate their knowledge of the local market.It's not a good sign if your prospective real estate agent doesn't ask the questions.Pricing is one reason why thorough knowledge of the local market is important.The real estate agent's expertise should help you understand if you're pricing too low or high.
Step 8: Be aware of the cost.
The networks of a real estate agent are not free.Real estate agents charge a commission.The commission can add up to a lot of money.A commission of 6 percent is negotiable.
Step 9: Determine how much coverage you want.
The MLS requires a home to be listed by a broker.If you didn't want to use the services of a real estate agent, you had to find a local broker and pay them a flat fee to get your house listed.There are a lot of services on the web that will take care of the listing for you.You have to decide how much coverage you want to get across platforms.It is possible to pay a flat fee to be listed on the MLS and other websites, as well as a for-sale-by-owner website.The cooperating broker commission fee is what you will need to state if you are paying to have your property listed on the MLS.If a real estate agent shows and sells your home, the fee is paid.The real estate agent can show the house according to your instructions.The agents may not show your home if you don't include this fee.The fees increase with the amount of coverage you have.You may be able to negotiate a listing on the MLS for less than $100, but you'll have to spend hundreds of dollars to get coverage on other platforms.Depending on geographic region and brokers, these fees can vary.
Step 10: Pick the package options that are right for you.
In addition to coverage across platforms, the flat-fee listing sites have different packages claiming to offer ever increasing marketing advantages.The length of time a home will be listed, the number of pictures that can be added to the listing, placement of your listing at the top of a page, and yard signs are all possibilities.It's nearly impossible to find independent verification of the claims of all the flat-free listing services.Your best bet is to find a company that does a lot of business in your area and check their reputation with the Better Business Bureau.The Better Business Bureau is funded by businesses that rate, reviews, and credentials businesses in order to ensure consumer confidence.You can find a business at http://www.bbb.org/ by entering the business' name, URL, and phone number.
Step 11: You can create a listing.
It's important to write a listing that is as compelling as possible.A descriptive and succinct heading is required.Instead of listing the address and price in the title, be a little more creative.Instead of "123 Red Robin Lane, $100,000," try something like "Charming turn of the century craftsman home in the popular RedRobin neighborhood."The more pictures you have on the listing, the more likely you are to sell the home.There are specific details about the house.The number of rooms, square footage, size of the lot, and any amenities that come along with the house should be included.The price is the thing.It should be easy for someone to buy your house.Don't be the person who creates a listing with no price or where the price should be.It is important to include a description of the neighborhood.There are parks, public swimming pools, and local schools that might be attractive to a potential buyer.
Step 12: Don't forget to cross-post.
If you're selling independently, add your listing to sites like Backpage.widening your exposure can only help you in the long run, since most buyers begin their search on larger sites.Most listings to sites like these are free or low cost.In most areas listings on the MLS are added to sites like Trulia and Zillow, but not every locality's MLS shares information with these sites.Check with your flat-fee listing service to find out.If the listings aren't automatically shared, you'll need to do it on your own.