6 Most Common Questions Asked By Home Sellers

Hi, this is Aintxane Whitaker with Coldwell Banker Algerio/Q-Team Realty here to share with you answers to the 6 most common questions asked by home sellers.

Needless to say, selling a home is not for the faint of heart.  It’s hard, emotional, and the process can seem daunting.   A slew of questions will likely come up before and during your transaction but hopefully I can answer a few of those for you now.

Question number 1: What do I need to do to my house before putting it on the market?

Lots of sellers have major anxiety over the thought of having to declutter and fix up their home…sometimes to the point that it prevents them from putting their home on the market… at all. But in most cases… there is really no need to panic.  Typically…there is far less to do than you think and unnecessary upgrades are not in order.  So before you go spending thousands of dollars …or just flat out giving up…show your home to your real estate agent…you might be pleasantly surprised…by who’s out looking for a home just like yours now!

Question number 2:  How much is my house worth?

While the median home price in the Elko area is $241,000, the exact price of your home will depend on a number of factors…including size, location, and amenities.  Your real estate agent will look at the prices …of similar homes… that have recently sold in your area and also look at your competition…this is called a comparative market analysis.  With that data…you and your agent will then strategically price your home to sell. Luckily, the market does most of the work for us…priced too high and your home will likely linger on the market, priced competitively and you could enjoy a bidding war on your home!  

Question number 3:  How long will it take to sell my home?

Right now, the average days on market for the Elko area is 195 days.  This time includes marketing and escrow time.  This is where price is really key.  If you are priced competitively …and have an active real estate agent… getting your home in front of as many sets of eyes as possible …this number will surely go down.   

Question number 4:  Is staging really important?

Yes…according to Realtor.com, on average… staged homes sell 88% faster and for 20% more money.  But it is important to understand…that you don’t have to hire a professional or go out and refurnish your home… By simply decluttering…removing personal pictures and objects…spiffing up a couple key rooms and accepting tips from your agent…you could easily… have a show ready home that any buyer could see themselves in.

Question number 5:  Should I be present when buyers view my house?

No, please no.  Having the owner in the house most often makes buyers very uncomfortable.  Buyers need to be able to feel that they can take their time, look anywhere and ask their agent questions without being offensive to the seller.  Hands down you could turn off a buyer and lose an offer.  Please leave your home, so the buyer can fall in love with it.  

Question number 6:  What does my agent do to earn their commission?

First, not all agents are created equal…so when you choose your agent be sure that he or she is an active agent…meaning that they will actively market your home…not just post a sign.  Then know…that unlike other professionals, that typically get paid by the hour…your agent will not get paid unless they sell your home.  So, I guarantee that an active agent will spend countless hours on your behalf working to get that sale and then spend even more hours behind the scenes keeping your sale together once it is in escrow.  But be sure that the fit is right…this person is no different than any other professional that you hire…you have to trust them and be sure that you are comfortable with them.  The choice is yours.

I hope one or more of your most troublesome real estate questions have been answered today.  If not, please call me immediately at 738-4078…I will be happy to assist!