Individuals Selling their Homes Have 3 Basic Questions for a Realtor
1. How fast can you sell my home?
2. Can I get top dollar?
3. What is your fee?
Sellers want a Marketing Plan designed to sell their home for the highest possible price, within their time frame and with the least amount of stress for them. Choosing a Realtor to market your home involves more than a "For Sale" sign on the front lawn. We provide expert assistance and knowledge during the entire process. There is no fee until the transaction is completed by offering the following:
- Consistent Follow-up and Communication
- Critique and offer suggestions on Preparing Your Home To Sell
- Represent your best interest
- Factual Current Market Information in order to establish best price point
- Advertising/Marketing your home with all resources available for maximum exposure
- Coordinate home showings and provide feed back
- Discovery and disclosure of potential buyers financing availability and loan commitment
- Review and discuss all offers for purchase with homeowner
- Negotiate contract terms
- Coordinate inspections
- Explain and review settlement statement for closing expenses
- Coordinate closing/possession
Putting the consumer's needs first is imperative to success. As an industry, we often don't think about what the consumer wants. National Association of Realtors research shows that the average REALTOR® is 45 years and older. The average homebuyer is 45 and younger. This is causing some disconnect.
For example, many younger clients don't expect REALTORS® to research homes for them. They do, however, expect instant responsiveness from their REALTOR® so returning phone calls or e-mails at the end of the day isn't going to cut it in today's new age and environment.
Today's average clients expect REALTORS® to e-mail them or provide them online access to the contracts, reports and disclosure documents. They like transparency and taking transaction management paperless is key.
REALTOR® online reviews are becoming more popular as well. Many agents are insecure about what clients will say about them but referrals are how we get business. We work hard to build a strong reputation and it's important that we as an industry begin to realize that online reviews are happening whether we want them to or not.
Garnering younger consumers takes education, not advertising. Instead of telling consumers we have 20 or 30 years of expertise, we have to share this expertise.
Push marketing is out. Success today is related to "pull" or "attraction" marketing. We should be attracting clients by educating them on the local real estate market and demonstrating our expertise rather by advertising or broadcasting how great we are.
Performance transparency. What we do and the service we provide will be discussed openly on the Internet.
Today's customers expect us to be there all the time. Mobile applications make this possible and necessary.
More companies will go virtual. The industry will continue to see a decrease in the need for big brick-and-mortar operations.
Transaction processing will continue to grow more efficient. Transaction management platforms, online forms and tablet computers will make paperless transactions the norm.
Saving You Time and Money
*Some of the data research compiled by Kim Shindle Communication Specialist