Avar Realty is the Huntsville Flat Fee Mls Listing Service that makes a difference. Out system eleminates the risk to the seller by offering a money back guarantee.
Just being in MLS helps to sell your home, but make sure you don't make these common mistakes:
- Use a yard sign that says "By Owner". When agents see your home in MLS, they will set up a showing, comfortable that the home is listed and their commission is protected if their buyer buys the home. When agents show up for the showing and see a "by owner" yard sign, they are taught to immediately cancel the showing with their buyer and show the next house. Why? Because it could mean one of two very bad things for the agent: (1) the home is no longer in MLS, so if their buyer wants to buy it they have no guarantee of their commission being paid or (2) their buyer may see the "by owner" sign and cut out the agent in order to save the commission. These are very real fears that agents have, and this explains why "drive offs" are a common occurrence when you have the wrong sign (drive off=the agent and/or their buyer show up for the showing, see the sign, do not enter the home, and drive off).
- Don't use a key lockbox. Agents are used to viewing homes with access by a key lockbox and the seller not being present. Why? Because this is the best way to get the buyer to buy the house. Study after study has shown that if the buyer sees the seller, they hurry through the home and feel like they are imposing on the seller's time. This occurs even if the seller is leaving, out of sight, or insists that the buyer take their time. Agents don't like it when the seller is present because they know it is a crucial distraction to their buyer focusing on the house and a comfortable, unhurried showing at the buyer's own pace. Lockboxes are the industry standard for 30+ years for a reason, and there are easy to use security procedures that have been established that have kept problems virtually unheard of for 30+ years of lockbox use.
- Don't display a state-specific disclosure. Agents and buyers are used to examining the disclosure in every other home they view. When a home doesn't have a disclosure, they wonder: Is the seller hiding something? Or are they just unprepared/breaking the law with regard to the (often legally required) display of the disclosure.
- Over price your home. Listings in MLS that are overpriced sit on the market without showings or interested buyers. When in doubt, get a home valuation report to help price your home and listen to what the market is telling you.
- Allow showings only when convenient for you. It is difficult for an agent to schedule a time that works for them and their buyer (often both spouses work and children may need a sitter). When they request a showing time and are asked to change it by an hour, they often just forget about that house and look at the others on the market.
- Refuse showing requests. Refused showing requests send a clear message that the seller is not really interested in selling the home. Allowing a showing of a home that is not clean or has something else less than ideal is not good, but it does give the buyer a chance to look past the dirt/problem and possibly buy the home. If you don't allow the showing, you can be 100% sure you won't get an offer from that buyer.
- Hover or "take over" the showings. Study after study shows that buyers are more likely to buy a home when the seller is not their for the showing. Buyers need to think out loud with their spouse/friend and agent, freely airing feedback. A seller that insists upon being there or showing what the seller thinks are the best or "hidden" parts of the home is a huge distraction for the buyer. Getting an offer on a home requires knowing the buyer and what is important to them more so than knowing every last detail of the home. The buyer's agent wants nothing more than to write an offer, sell the home, and get their commission, so let them do their job without interference or distraction.
- Return showing request calls slowly. Agent and buyer schedules are tight, so quick showing confirmations are important to make sure the buyers and agent can make it to the viewing. Think of the best buyers, buyers relocating from out of town. They often have a day or two to buy a home, so nearly all their showings will be last minute, short notice requests to show.
Avar Realty is a Member of the Chamber of Commerce, National Association of Realtors and North Alabama MLS Service. We are the premier flat fee discount brokerage for Huntsville and North Alabama. For more information contact one of our flat fee agents.
