written by Shell Brodnax |  

Written by Michelle Minch
Submitted by Shell Brodnax

Here are 10 steps for moving your home from “for sale” to “SOLD!”. I’m here to tell you that homes are selling, some very quickly, even in this market. Most of the Los Angeles homes we stage are selling in less than 30 days, some with multiple offers. Want to know what those home sellers are doing to help their homes get sold? Here are 10 steps you can take to help get your home sold, too:

1. Hire the best “full service” REALTOR or real estate agent you can find. This is no time to be fooling around with less than full service. Do your research on the internet and by asking friends who they’ve worked with and if they had a good experience with a REALTOR or real estate agent. Interview at least 3 REALTORS or real estate agents . Don’t hire your best friend, their cousin, your hairstylist who moonlights as a real estate agent, unless you are certain that they know what they are doing and can back up their claims. You are selling what for many is their most valuable asset. Don’t be embarrassed into letting your home sit unsold because you didn’t want to hurt someone’s feelings. Make sure you understand your listing agents marketing plan for your property. How many photos will they post? Which sites will they use to promote your home’s listing? Will they be holding open houses? How many?
2. Don’t negotiate the sales commission. A really good, experienced REALTOR or real estate agent will tell probably tell you “no” anyway. Marketing and selling real estate properly is an expensive proposition. All the brochures, flyers, virtual tours, professional photographers, etc. cost money. If you negotiate a lower commission, you are preventing your listing agent from pulling out the “big guns” to get your home sold as quickly as possible. Don’t hamstring the sale of your home by limiting the amount of money your listing agent has available for marketing. Also, with the abundant inventory on the market right now, buyer’s agents are going to show the homes that pay full commissions first.
3. Listen to your Listing Agent regarding pricing. They know what they are doing (assuming your followed step 1). They are on the MLS every day and know what homes are selling for and how quickly they sold. They talk to other REALTORS and real estate agents daily. It doesn’t matter how much your dry cleaner thinks you should list your home for. It doesn’t matter how much profit (or how little loss) you would to walk away with. All that matters is how much someone will be willing to pay for your house. A good REALTOR or real estate agent will be able to tell you how much you should list your home for to get it sold quickly.
4. Hire a professional building inspector for a pre-sale inspection. You can address any issues that might sink a sale durin...