Are agents really worth that 6-7% commission? After all, many home sellers complain about having to pay a commission that can take a big bite out of the sale price. But are those complaints justified? In most cases . . . no. A good agent is actually usually worth much more than he or she charges in commissions. So let’s see what those commissions really buy you when selling your house in Northwest Arkansas.
Proper Pricing
They say that pricing correctly is the best marketing tool for selling your house. It certainly can be if you price in line with fair market value and competitively, which an agent helps you do. In fact, some in the real estate industry go so far to say that “pricing a home properly is bar none the most important thing” agents do for sellers.
These same experts go on to say: “Understanding how to price a home is one of an agent’s most valuable skills. Smart sellers should be looking for agents who sell homes for close to the original listing price. The best real estate agents have a reputation for pricing homes accurately and not telling a seller what they want to hear to get a listing.”
And pricing correctly takes a good amount of “training, understanding of the market, and [understanding of] comparable sales” on the agent’s part. So when you buy pricing skill with the commission when selling your house in Northwest Arkansas, you’re definitely getting a value.
Help with Preparation
Buyers offer what they feel a home is worth. Their perception of worth is greatly affected by the condition and presentation of the property in the photos they view online as well as their in-person showings.
Most agents will simply give advice about how to prepare the property for sale. However, in my career I’ve found that providing my clients with options to directly help them with property prep has been of great benefit to their final sale price. I’ve developed flexible commission packages which allow clients to pick and choose services based on their needs. We can cover the cost of exterior pressure washing, or a maid service, or even landscaping to really make the property shine.
Additionally, one of the most effective ways to increase the Buyer’s perceived value, and ultimately boost the sale price, is to have the home professionally staged. Staging can even lift the offer prices far above the total cost of the agent’s commission. For that reason, I actually include an optional listing package with Whole Home Staging included at no upfront cost to you.
Watch my “Pre-Listing Price Accelerator” Guide Here to see How I can help cover your Property Preparation costs.
Effective Marketing
Effective, aggressive, wide-reaching marketing is another important thing those commissions really buy you when selling your house in Northwest Arkansas. Obviously, if nobody knows about your house for sale, you won’t get any offers.
And, today, real estate marketing means primarily online marketing. “The internet will be where home buyers discover your home. . . . Your [agent will be] versed on how to get the word out using all available marketing channels, not just the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Ideally, your [agent] should have a website that draws traffic and showcases all their properties for sale.” Your agent will also leverage all their social media channels to cast an even wider marketing net – for example, Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
Imagine getting your property seen by over 50,000 NWA residents in just the first weekend. I prefer not to simply list my properties, but instead to LAUNCH my listings. That is what those commissions are buying you when selling your house in Northwest Arkansas.
Watch my “Pre-Listing Price Accelerator” Guide Here to see How To Maximize Your Home Sale with Premium Promotion.
Vetting Buyers
After your agent has priced your home correctly and marketed it effectively, you’ll begin to get offers. But you can’t just accept any offer or even the highest offer. Some buyers, even though they make an offer, aren’t qualified or serious.
That’s another thing your agent will help you with – making sure buyers/bidders have been pre-qualified and can actually get the necessary financing. Otherwise, you may be wasting your time with mere tire kickers.
Negotiating the Best Deal
Negotiations – that’s where your agent really earns their keep. Negotiating the best deal and the best terms is a skill that requires experience, knowledge, and a good helping of natural talent.
“The best agents will go out of their way to fight hard for the best terms and conditions for their clients. This, after all, is what they are paid to do. A great real estate agent will never think about their pocketbook but what makes the most sense for their client.” If you’ve ever wondered whether paying the agent’s commission was worth it for selling your Northwest Arkansas house, your agent’s negotiating expertise should be a big part of the equation.
Smoothing Closing
Finally, when selling your house in Northwest Arkansas, those commissions are buying you some peace of mind during that final, anxiety-inducing event called closing. Your agent will tie up all the loose ends and help you navigate the whole process. There’s a lot to take care of right before closing and a host of confusing legal technicalities during closing. So why not make it easier on yourself by using a good local real estate agent?
Find out how your agent can give you your money’s worth when buying or selling your house in Northwest Arkansas! Contact me today at (479) 777-3379!
You can book a FREE Strategy Session with me Here.
Or Watch my “Pre-Listing Price Accelerator” Guide Here to see How To Maximize Your Home Sale and Prepare it for the Market.