Friday, January 26, 2007

Working with Your Realtor®, Part 1

Buying or selling real estate is probably the most important and potentially rewarding financial transaction you'll make in your life. The way you sell your house can greatly impact how much cash you can get for it. Once you have chosen your Realtor®, here are ways you can facilitate the process:

Use Your Realtor's Experience.
Most Realtors are extremely knowledgeable about the local real estate market. This is a valuable resource, so use it well. Your real estate professional can help you decide your selling price, promote your property, and evaluate offers.

Communicate
Even the best agent is not a mind reader. Tell your agent what types of offers you’re willing to accept, when your home is available for showings, whether you want an open house, what changes you’re willing to make to the home’s interior and exterior, whether you want to sell the house “as is”, whether you have a pressing deadline for the sale, etc.

Get your records in order.
Potential buyers are often interested in what your monthly utility bills and other home maintenance expenses are. Be sure to have these numbers ready. Also, gather together any owner’s manuals and warranties you may have for your appliances.

Next week, I'll share more tips for working with your realtor.

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