Selling a home can be a stressful and nerve-wracking time for homeowners. There can be a lot at stake for your clients financially and emotionally when they put their home on the market. For many sellers, preparing a home for listing photos and keeping a home in tip-top shape for showings can also be anxiety-producing. Sellers depend on their real estate agents for a lot of support and guidance. Here are some of the things they most want:
Expertise
Even homeowners who have sold homes before rely heavily on their agents’ expertise to price, market, negotiate, and close a home sale. It can be reassuring for sellers to know whether you’ve sold other homes in the area or similarly priced properties. Talk to sellers about your experience and your willingness to share your expertise for their advantage.
Analysis
Correctly pricing a home is a critical part of the selling process. Your clients will need your expert review of data relating to comparables, average square footage prices, and recent home sales, as well as your estimation of market demand and other correlating factors. While savvy sellers can find a lot of information online, they don’t have your professional experience and insight to tie it all together and translate it for their particular situation.
Marketing
Sellers look to you to effectively market their home to potential buyers. While they are probably familiar with online listings, they may not be aware of other creative strategies. For example, sellers may not realize that American Home Shield® home warranties can bring marketing advantages as well as important budget protection to listings. With American Home Shield’s Seller Coverage Option, sellers enjoy Shield Essential plan protection during the listing period (up to $2,000 on covered repairs or replacements) plus a marketing edge that differentiates their listing from other properties on the market. The coverage, which extends to buyers after closing, can help reassure potential buyers and give them confidence to proceed with the deal. In addition to protecting a seller’s budget during the listing period, the Seller Coverage Option can also help reduce issues following the home inspection. Qualified home sellers can add the Seller Coverage Option to any warranty package for up to six months while their home is on the market, with no money due until the home closes.
Expectations
While often overlooked during the listing process, sellers also need their agent to help them set realistic expectations for the sale. In addition to setting a listing price, sellers want to know what timeframes to expect for getting a contract and escrow. You can help by reviewing average selling times for their area, as well as making sure they understand contract deadline dates and the closing process.
Negotiation
Sellers want to know that their agent will go to bat for them during contract negotiations and any contingency exercises or home inspection issues that pop up. Using your negotiation skills during the selling process is critical to representing your sellers, gaining their confidence, and closing transactions.
During the listing process, it’s also helpful to keep sellers updated on progress and next steps. Staying in touch with your sellers and letting them know that you’re working behind the scenes can help reassure them and keep them in the loop.
For more helpful tips from our partners at American Home Shield, check out their blog!