How to Choose a Realtor to Sell Your House: Expert Tips & Advice from Tipp City Ohio

Why Choosing the Right Realtor Matters

The right realtor can make the difference between a smooth, profitable sale and a stressful, drawn-out process. A skilled realtor not only knows the local market but also understands the latest marketing techniques, negotiation strategies, and legal requirements. Here’s what you should consider when selecting a realtor.

New Marketing Techniques vs. Traditional Methods

Modern Marketing Techniques:

Selling a house today is not the same as it was five or ten years ago. Many experienced agents rely on traditional methods such as listing flyers, neighborhood mailers, and open houses. While these methods have their place, they often benefit the realtor more than the homeowner.

Modern marketing techniques, such as boosting online platform placements and creating engaging social media and YouTube videos, can be more effective. These methods ensure your listing reaches a wider audience of potential buyers, increasing the chances of a quick sale at a good price.

Traditional Methods:

• Flyers and Mailers: These often serve more as lead generation tools for the realtor than effective selling tools for your home.
• Open Houses: While useful, open houses can sometimes signal that a home is not selling if it remains on the market afterward. Strategically scheduling an open house 2-4 weeks into the listing can create a sense of urgency among buyers.

Pricing Strategies

Pricing your home correctly is crucial. Some realtors may suggest pricing your home below market value to attract more buyers quickly. While this can lead to multiple offers and a fast sale, it's essential to ensure you're comfortable with the potential sale price.

Conversely, overpricing can lead to your home sitting on the market for too long, eventually necessitating a price reduction. When interviewing realtors, ask them to justify their suggested price with comparable sales (comps) and ensure they’re willing to sign a shorter listing contract to give you flexibility.

The Truth About Discount Brokerages and Online Listing Services

Discount brokerages and online listing services can be tempting with their lower commission rates. However, the adage "you get what you pay for" often holds true. While these services can get your home listed on the MLS, they may lack the comprehensive marketing, negotiation skills, and local market knowledge that a full-service realtor offers.

A full-service realtor can provide:

• Market Knowledge: Understanding local market trends to price your home correctly.
• Professional Staging and Photos: Ensuring your home looks its best.
• Effective Negotiation: Securing the best possible offers and handling post-offer negotiations.
• Closing Support: Managing the complex process from contract to close, ensuring everything goes smoothly.

Interviewing Potential Realtors

When interviewing potential realtors, consider asking the following questions:

• What marketing techniques do you use?
• How do you determine the listing price for my home?
• What would you recommend that I fix or not fix before listing?
• What is your commission rate, and what services does it include?
• Are you willing to sign a shorter listing contract?

Real-Life Success Stories

Sharing real-life success stories can provide insight into a realtor's effectiveness. For example, I recently had a homeowner ask me why they should hire me over a realtor with 30 years of experience who had sold many homes in their neighborhood. After listing their home with professional photos and a strategic YouTube video, we had it under contract the next day and closed three weeks later, netting the homeowner $5,000 more than expected.

Conclusion

Choosing the right realtor involves more than just picking someone with the most experience or the lowest commission. It’s about finding someone who uses effective modern marketing techniques, understands pricing strategies, and provides comprehensive support throughout the selling process. By asking the right questions and doing your research, you can find a realtor who will help you achieve the best possible outcome when selling your home.

If you're in the Dayton, Ohio area and need assistance selling your home, feel free to reach out. And if you need a referral to a great agent in your area, click on my referral link in the description. For more tips on selling your home, check out my videos on staging, pricing, and home inspections. Happy selling!

Lydia RoweYour Miami Valley / Tipp City Real Estate Agent

I specialize in homes for sale in Tipp City, Troy, Piqua, Vandalia, West Milton, Clayton, Englewood, North Dayton, and Huber Heights, with ties to Beavercreek, Oakwood, Kettering, Centerville, and Fairborn as well.

I believe everyone deserves to have a place called home, a place they belong and a place they feel completely comfortable. Your home is important. Where you choose to put down roots is significant.

I have grown up in the Tipp/Troy/Vandalia area and I am passionate about bringing you the best service in the real estate business, no matter what your goals! Whether it’s finding your next home or selling your current one, I will work hard, along with my fantastic team at NavX Realty, to exceed your expectations and have some fun along the way!

Check out my YouTube channel @listwithlydia where I post weekly updates on all things Living in the Tipp City, OH Ohio and Dayton Metropolitan Area.