What you should know before selling your home
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Presenting your home
Agents’ and REALTORS®’ main objective is to sell your home for you, and they will present it to as many potential buyers as possible. They will also work with you in preparing your home for showings. Below are explanations about the different ways they will market your home.
The "For Sale" Sign
This sign is the most noticeable indication that your property is being marketed. It identifies the agent and the agent’s company, and offers contact information for prospective buyers. Signs are fantastic phone call generators and advertise your property’s availability both through your neighbors and people looking to move into your area who randomly decide to drive past your home.
Flyers and a Brochure Box
Flyers display both exterior and interior photos and provide many details about your house. They offer contact numbers so buyers can contact your agent directly for additional information. Display flyers in a prominent location in your home and, if possible, in a brochure box attached to the "For Sale" sign.
The Multiple Listing Service
The local MLS is one of the most powerful tools your agent will use. It is a database of all the homes listed by the majority of your local real estate agents. The MLS is private and grants access to information only to members; this allows agents to target other agents directly, not homebuyers.
Open Houses
Open Houses are an invitation for the public to come in and get a feel for what your home has to offer. This is no different from a showing—your property must shine from top to bottom. Buyers must be impressed with everything they see including cleanliness, feeling of space, and (most importantly) the ability to visualize moving in.
Broker's Open
A Broker's Open is basically an Open House specifically for real estate brokers and agents. This allows them to get a feel for the house and mentally evaluate it for their various buyers, to decide which potential buyers would be the best candidates.
Caravan or Tour
This variation of the Broker's Open is an exclusive invitation to agents from your agent's office, instead of every agent in the MLS. Agents from the same office will travel together to see the newest listings.
Direct Mailing
Direct mailings are usually post cards sent throughout the area surrounding your house. They announce your property’s availability and encourage your neighbors to tell any of their friends who may be interested.
Real Estate Magazines
These publications are extremely effective because they target a specific audience—people shopping for homes.
The Internet
The Internet is an important tool for advertising information about your property to prospective buyers. It allows people to find information about your house while in the comfort of their own.
