Real Estate Pro answers the seven questions every home seller should ask

Looking to sell your home, but don’t know where to begin? Not only are you not alone, but now you’re also in great company. That’s because we’ve consulted with Marci Press—Team Leader of Marci Press & Pros and owner of Home Central Realty–to answer some of the most important questions you’ll have in the process, and to gather advice from those in Central Ohio who know selling in today’s market better than anyone else.

What are the benefits of working with a Realtor instead of selling on my own?

Although the benefits of working with a Realtor to sell your home as opposed to selling it yourself (FSB0 – For Sale By Owner) are numerous, here are a few to open the conversation: The exposure a Realtor is able to provide for your home FAR exceeds the exposure you’re able to get on your own.  A licensed Realtor has access to the MLS system, which ensures that your home is seen by the 9,000+ Realtors in Central Ohio, along with their clients who have personal searches set up through their Realtors for homes offering specific criteria. The Columbus MLS also feeds into loads and loads of real estate sites, such as Zillow and Realtor.com just to name a few. Secondly, because Realtors assist clients in the sale and purchase of real estate daily, we are extremely familiar with how the process works, the pitfalls that may occur, and how to avoid a variety of stumbling blocks from the onset.  I could not walk into someone else’s job and have any idea how to do it, so, why would it be realistic to expect a non-Realtor to know how to do a Realtor’s job? 

In this highly-competitive market, it’s more essential than ever to have Realtor representation due to the unique offers we are receiving!

How long will the hot housing market last?

Although the market has most definitely softened over the last one to two months, we still have a deficiency in the number of homes that are for sale in comparison with the number of Buyers out there looking for their perfect home. Having said that, I am still receiving multiple offers on my listings, but I may receive three to five offers rather than 25-30. At this time, there is no end in sight for the Central Ohio hot housing market.  

Is now a good time to sell?

Yes, absolutely – 100% great time to sell residential real estate.

What can I do to make my home more attractive to Buyers?

Buyers buy with their eyes first, so we will want to create a WOW factor.  Make sure your landscaping is clean and mulched, your home is decluttered, including closets so that our potential Buyers feel that there’s more than enough room for them in your home, a fresh coat of paint goes a long way to help your home present a fresh, clean look. Replacing a front door helps to enhance the exterior of your home and improve curb appeal.

Is the Zillow estimate for my house accurate?

Although I use Zillow “Zestimates” to provide one data point when completing research to assist my clients in determining a realistic asking price for their home, Zillow does not know the variety of improvements you’ve completed on your home over the years.  Have you updated your kitchen? Bathrooms? Finished your lower level? Zillow has no way of accessing that information, and therefore, although they can provide us with an IDEA of your home’s value, a licensed Realtor can provide you with a far more accurate valuation once they’ve viewed your home in person and discussed the updates and improvements you’ve completed over the years.

How long will it take to sell my home?

This is a question that incorporates a variety of variables. I distinctly remember the very first hour of my real estate classes in 2004, when the instructor pounded his fist on the table and said, LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION! Where is your home located? Are you asking a realistic amount for your home? What updates and improvements have been completed, and more!

Does the increase in interest rate affect me as a Seller? 

There’s no way around the fact that the increase in interest rates has definitely had an impact on the residential real estate market. Unfortunately, the rate increase has removed a portion of our Buyers from the market as the difference this increase made in their monthly payment has prohibited them from buying at this time. It’s important to note that we are technically still in a Seller’s market, as the number of homes we have available compared to the number of Buyers is still not balanced.  With the increase in interest rates, Buyers are likely to still find themselves in a competitive situation when submitting an offer on a home, but rather than Sellers receiving 10-20 offers on their home, they’re currently receiving somewhere between 3 and 5.

Maneuvering this strong, fiercely competitive real estate market is the job for an experienced real estate professional. Let me put my 18 years of experience and expertise to work for you. You are sure to be M PRESSED!