Meeting With A Realtor For The First Time

Deciding to sell your property is a huge step. And while the thought of what lies ahead can be daunting, meeting with a Realtor for the first time can play a large part in putting your mind at ease and allow you the opportunity to cover key information that will help facilitate the process.

Your Agent Is Here To Make This Easy

Real estate is your Agent's business. They do this every day and can be a great resource for you as you navigate what lies ahead. Remember that they are in your corner - and when you are meeting with your Realtor, be prepared to ask detailed questions.

Be Prepared With Key Documents

These documents are worth providing when you are meeting with your realtor at the beginning of the process to help things along:

1. Mortgage Documents showing how much you owe on your property. This will help you discuss with your Agent the pricing strategy and assist them in preparing a net sheet for you factoring in closings costs, etc.
2. A list of any upgrades and enhancements you've made to your property.  This will not only assist with pricing the property but may highlight some key assets for marketing purposes.
3. Your pre-listing inspection. You may or may not decide to go this route - but if you do, reviewing the document with your Agent can help you get ahead of some repairs needed so that you are prepared to receive an offer.  The Seller's Property Disclosure, required by the real estate commission, will also help you pinpoint any problem issues you might want to address in preparation of listing.
4. Property Survey. If you have one available, this will provide key information to the Agent for use in Marketing and showing activities.
5. Prior appraisal. Again - you may or may not have one on hand - but if you do have a prior appraisal it may assist you when working with your Agent to price your property.
6. Photography.  While your Galles Properties agent will arrange for photography for your property prior to listing, you may have some photos you'd like to share that might enhance marketing activities.

Be Prepared To Give A Tour

Plan on preparing your Property as if you were showing it to a potential Buyer. An Agent will need a full tour and as much information as you are able to give about the property. This is the time Galles Properties Agents will focus on advising about decluttering, clean-up and repair.

Get Ready To Prepare Your Property To Sell

Talking about how to prep your property is a key part of the listing process, and your agent’s advice on the subject can make a difference as to how long the property is on the market.

According to the National Realtor Association’s Confidence Report, about 9% of contracts that fell through in October of 2021 were due to inspection issues. To avoid this, it’s important to get ahead of anything that may deter buyers, from major problems like shoddy wiring to simple fixes like deep cleaning and decluttering. And your Galles Properties agent will cover all of that in your first meeting.

Once you and your agent are on the same page about prepping the house, you’ll be able to take care of another critical step: Deciding on an official list date (i.e., when your property will go live on the market!) depending on how long it’ll take to get the property ready to show.

Some of the most common suggestions agents make in that first meeting include:

Decluttering

This includes organizing closets, taking down overly personal and aesthetic-specific decor, and neutralizing (for the most part) each room. Use this decluttering checklist to get started. But ultimately, walk your house in a prospective buyer’s shoes. Think about what you would (and wouldn’t) want to see.

Staging

Your agent may recommend rearranging furniture to showcase the best use of the space. They might also recommend adding or removing specific decor items. If you want to go all out, you can also hire a professional home stager who will bring in all new furniture for key rooms. But keep in mind that with staging, often less is more:

• In the office: your desk, chair, lamp, and a rug will do.
• In the bedrooms: leave only a bed, white linens, a dresser, and a nightstand with a lamp.
• In the living room: have a couch, a coffee table, a TV, and an area rug to create a clear seating area.

People don’t want to feel like they’re getting your hand-me-down house — so your agent will likely tell you to take out more items than you’re putting back in.

Curb appeal

Buyers will pay more for a property with great curb appeal. So don’t be surprised if your agent has some suggestions for cleaning up the outdoors.

No one expects you to introduce expensive, high-end landscaping. But does the property look clean? Does it look well cared for? Those are the questions to ask yourself.

Be prepared to talk dollar signs and sign paperwork.

As important as home prep is, don’t forget to talk about your home’s list price and finalize your listing agreement if you haven’t already. If you have an idea of what you want to sell for — or have done the math to know what your bottom line is to break even — lay all these cards on the table. Your agent will be able to walk you through comparable properties in your area and compare your listing to other properties that have recently sold.

Keep in mind,  overpricing is one of the most common mistakes sellers make. According to the National Realtor Association’s Confidence Report, about 21% of delayed contracts and 10% of terminated contracts were due to Appraisal issues. Ultimately, the choice is yours, but hear your agent out if they suggest a lower list price than you had in mind.

The bottom line as you prepare with your first meeting with a realtor, is to remember that ultimately, your realtor is your partner in this journey, and has the experience to help you navigate the listing process.  Communication is the key to a great relationship, so your first meeting is all about aligning on strategy, ensuring your needs are met, and communicating your expectations from the start.

If you are interested in listing your Pagosa Springs area property, contact Galles Properties and we will be happy to provide a complimentary Market Analysis and a listing presentation. We would love to earn your business.

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