A listing appointment is a meeting between you and a real estate agent to discuss selling your home. The agent will look at the condition of your home, compare it to others like it, and talk with you about your goals for selling.
What To Do Before Scheduling A Listing Appointment
Take the time to research the listing team/agent to confirm they have a proven track record of sales and a long list of satisfied clients who are willing to provide a 5-star review and testimonial. See Path & Post Google Reviews and Zillow Reviews.
How To Prepare For A Listing Appointment
Before your appointment, there are a few things you can do to prepare:
- Gather all of the information about your home, including the deed, surveys, tax records, and utility information.
- Get a copy of your current mortgage information with lender contact info and estimated payoff amount.
- Note the dates of upgrades and any recent improvements.
- Jot down the age and last maintenance date of key systems such as roof, air conditioner, furnace, water heater, last septic cleanout, etc…
- When you meet with a potential agent, be sure to discuss your motivations for selling your home. Are you looking to downsize? Move to a new city? Whatever your reasons, it’s important for your agent to understand them. This will help them develop a marketing strategy that is tailored to your specific needs.
- If you have an HOA, get a PDF copy of the covenants and ask your Community Manager for a list of one-time fees associated with closing this property, such as initiation fees, transfer fees, application fees, etc.
- Think about what you want to achieve from selling your home. Do you want to get the highest possible price? Do you want to sell quickly? Do you want to make sure that you have a smooth and hassle-free experience?
What To Expect During A Listing Appointment
The listing appointment will typically last for 1-2 hours. The agent will ask you questions about your home, your goals, and your timeline.
What Questions To Ask Your Agent
Always remember that agents do not set prices; the market does! The agent will compare sales of similar homes in the current market to the condition and features of your home. Before you settle on a pricing strategy, you should ask the following important questions:
- Will the market increase or decrease in value over the next few months? The general direction of the market is a key factor when pricing your home. A market that is expected to increase in value over the coming months gives the seller confidence to price at the top (or ahead) of the market. A market that is expected to decrease in value over the coming months indicates the seller will be challenged to achieve the sales prices of recent comps.
- Tell me about your marketing plan. The second most important question to ask a listing agent is about their marketing plan. Path & Post’s marketing plan is the best in Atlanta; see for yourself.
Path & Post seller clients also receive the following benefits:
- Smart Pricing Guidance
- Custom Marketing Plan
- Showing Feedback & Analysis
- Strategic Negotiations
- Navigating Contingencies
- Successful Closing
Collaborate on a Pricing Strategy
One of the most important decisions you will make when selling your home is pricing it. Your agent will help you come up with a pricing strategy based on your goals and the current market conditions. Three general pricing strategies include:
- Above market value – This price position is only successful in an increasing market where home values are rising.
- Market value – This price position is almost always relevant.
- Just below market value – This price position works well in any market as it gets ahead of a decreasing market to attract the most buyers. It also allows for a buyer frenzied auction with the potential for bids over the asking price in an increasing market.
Staging and Showing Preparations
Preparing your home for the market is an important step. You will get the best advice from an agent who is a Strategic Guide to help you achieve your goals. Your agent will likely have some advice on how to stage your home to make it appealing to buyers. This could include decluttering, painting walls, or staging furniture. Your agent will also have tips to help you get your home ready for showings. Path & Post’s property Showcase Guide covers staging and showing tips to make sure your property presents in the best light possible.
What Type Of Paperwork When Listing Your Home For Sale
Listing Agreement
An exclusive listing agreement is a written commitment between a seller and a broker and will include the terms and conditions of the listing, including the price, key dates, MLS channels, and broker fees. The listing broker also agrees to cooperate with other agents to show and sell the property.
At Path & Post, our brokerage agreements also protect sellers from a risky practice called Dual Agency. Dual Agency occurs when an agent helps both the buyer and seller. In Dual Agency situations, neither side benefits from full representation. Most Georgia brokers allow the practice of dual agency. Path & Post does not permit dual agency since it is not in the best interests of our clients.
Property Disclosures
You will also need to fill out seller property disclosures in addition to the listing agreement. The exact disclosures required vary depending on the details of your property.
While you complete the paperwork, your agent should take some preview photos of your home to help with pre-marketing.
What To Expect During The Selling Process
Once you have selected a pricing strategy, be sure to have a plan in place for dealing with price changes, market shifts, negotiations, financing, appraisals, home inspections, repair requests, and anything else that may arise so that we can represent your best interests throughout the process.
Selling your home can be a complex process, but it doesn’t have to be. By being prepared and working with a true professional agent, the process will be as smooth and hassle-free as possible.
