Two of the biggest mistakes home sellers make when choosing a listing agent are selecting an agent solely based on the two things: the highest list price for your home and the lowest commission.

At first glance, a seller might say, "What? Are you nuts?" because sellers want the highest possible price and to pay the least amount of commission. But those two criteria have very little to do with hiring a competent agent and, in many instances, are completely irrelevant. Let's look at why.

Agents can't tell you how much your home will sell for. That's a fallacy. A listing agent can show you comparable sales, pending sales, and…

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5 steps to prep a show-ready listing every time

Pay close attention to the details, and you'll create a memorable first impression for every buyer

Putting a home on the market is like being on stage for all the world to see, so sellers must prepare to have their homes scrutinized six ways from Sunday, inside and out.

Although drone photography, video and 3D imaging have proven to be advantageous in many ways, allowing buyers to virtually experience the home and neighborhood like never before, they can also be very unforgiving.

So what can sellers do to make a positive and memorable first impression on buyers and their agents? What can they do to eliminate (or at least tame) the scrutiny and instead inspire buyers to visualize a future in…

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There are many reasons why a homeowner decides to sell their house and move. The latest Generational Trends Report from the National Association of Realtors asked recent home sellers to share their reason for moving.

The younger the respondents, the more likely their top response centered around needing a larger home (ages 29 to 53). Relocating for a job was the top reason for those ages 54 to 63 and the second most popular response for those under 53. The chart below shows the breakdown for these two reasons.

For homeowners over the age of 64, wanting to be closer to friends and family served as the top motivator to move. Downsizing to a smaller home or moving due to retirement came in as a close second and third.

Have you outgrown…

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So, you’ve decided to sell your house. You’ve hired a real estate professional to help you through the entire process, and they have asked you what level of access you want to provide to your potential buyers.

There are four elements to a quality listing. At the top of the list is access, followed by condition, financing, and price. There are many levels of access that you can provide to your agent so that he or she can show your home.

Here are five levels of access that you can give to buyers, along with a brief description:

  1. Lockbox on the Door – this allows buyers the ability to see the home as soon as they are aware of the listing, or at their convenience.
  2. Providing a Key to the Home – although the buyer’s agent may need to stop by…

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Homeowners in the Sunshine State know a thing or two about warm weather. Spring is just another season that offers optimal plant growth along with mild temperatures. Caring for your landscaping in the spring can be a bit more complicated when trying to sell your home. Check out these spring landscaping tips for Florida homeowners that are sure to attract potential buyers.

Keep It Mowed

Mowing the lawn properly and on a regular basis is an essential part of improving the curb appeal of your home. You should mow the grass every week at a minimum. You may have to mow more often if a recent rainstorm has boosted grass growth. Using a pole edger or weed eater to edge the lawn is another basic lawn care task that keeps a yard looking…

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Opinions about whether to hold an open house vary greatly across the country. You'll hear real estate agents flatly refuse to hold open listings because they view them as a wasted marketing effort, or they'll say open houses are just a tool to find the agent new clients. There is some truth to that reasoning, but open houses are a great strategy to sell houses. Consider also that many listing agents don't want to give up their Sunday afternoons to sit an open house and talk to strangers.

Although not all homes are candidates for an open house due to location, condition, or competition in the marketplace, you won't know how much buyer traffic you will draw until you try. Exposure to potential buyers and to individuals who will talk about your…

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5 Common (but Terrible) Reasons for Overpricing Your Home

We know, we know—you love your house. The kitchen is the perfect size, your weekly summer barbecues give your neighbors patio envy, and your '70s-style conversation pit is totally coming back into vogue—as you knew it would.

You've seen the comps for your neighborhood, but you just know your home is worth more, so you're going to list it at a higher price.

This is one of a few reasons why sellers overprice their home, and none of them is smart. If you price your home too high, it'll take longer to sell, raising doubts in buyers' minds about whether there's something wrong with it, and you'll probably have to drop the price eventually anyway. So don’t fall for any of these five common…

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Key Takeaways

  • Sellers tend to overprice and spend a tremendous amount of effort trying to defend their price, even if the market doesn't support it.
  • Pricing a home correctly is a partnership between sellers and their agent, not a battle of wills.

When it comes down to it, the most important advice a real estate agent can give sellers is how to price their home. No matter how beautiful or well-maintained a property may be, how many upgrades it has or how well it shows, if a home is not properly priced, it’s going to be a tough sell.

The battle for agents most often lies with aligning what sellers’ think their home is worth with its true market value.

These disparate realities can be difficult to merge when working with a seller…

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Selling Your House: Here’s Why You Need A Pro In Your Corner!

With home prices on the rise and buyer demand still strong, some sellers may be tempted to try to sell their homes on their own rather than using the services of a real estate professional.

Real estate agents are trained and experienced in negotiation while, in most cases, the seller is not. Sellers must realize that their ability to negotiate will determine whether or not they get the best deal for themselves and their families.

Here is a list of just some of the people with whom the seller must be prepared to negotiate if they decide to For Sale by Owner (FSBO):

  • The buyer, who wants the best deal possible
  • The buyer’s agent, who solely represents the best interests of the buyer
  • The buyer’s attorney (in some parts of the country)
  • …

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