Virginia Roberts
Principal Broker
215A East Main Street
Wise, Virginia
276-328-0055
Your Local Hometown Agency
Serving All of Southwest Virginia
Choosing A Realtor to Sell Your Home
Your listing agent does more than put the "For Sale" sign in your front yard. They are your personal market analyst, negotiator, and advocate. For what is likely to be one of the biggest and most important transactions of your life, you are going to want a trusted advisor by your side.
Choosing the right agent to sell your home is an investment in your success, ensuring you receive the highest level of service and support throughout the process. The best agents will come down to a mix of market knowledge, experience, and personal touch.
Most sellers find an agent to list their home in one of four ways:
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Via a referral from someone they know and trust
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By using the same agent who helped them buy/sell previously
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By using reviews, online search tools, or social media sites
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By seeking out an agent they have met in the community
Services to expect from a real estate agent when selling:
Provide a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) that outlines recently sold homes that are similar to yours, in the same area. Your Ridgeview agent walks you through factors that can increase or decrease the price you are able to get, like your home's condition, location, and features.
Attract qualified buyers by listing your property on the local MLS and ensuring your listing also shows up on major real estate portals like Zillow, Trulia, Homes.com, Realtor.com and countless others. Your Ridgeview agent creates attractive and clear listing descriptions, uses quality photos for marketing your property, and vets potential buyers through buyers' agents to determine how soon they want to close, and if they have been pre-qualified/approved through a lender.
Facilitate showings by coordinating with you when scheduling showings and always giving you an agreed-upon amount of notice ahead of time. Your Ridgeview agent manages scheduling showings with other agents and their buyers and manages property access through lockboxes or other means of entry.
Sell in a reasonable time frame which depends on current market activity in your area, your pricing strategy, your home's location, and the condition of your home. Your Ridgeview agent discusses with you what the average time on market is for your area and provides an estimate on how long they think your home should take to sell. In hot markets, your home should sell in 30-60 days. In cooler markets and rural areas, it can take longer due to a more limited buyer pool.
Convey offers, handle paperwork, and facilitate negotiations as legally required. Your agent is legally required to tell you about all offers and to handle all negotations between you and any potential buyers. Your Ridgeview agent guides you through actions that need to be taken to close the deal, like signing paperwork and arranging inspections and appraisals.
Uses technology in the selling process to attract potential buyers through online sources and social networking platforms. A strong social media presence is critical in today's real estate market. Ridgeview's agents understand how multimedia entices potential buyers to consider a property and how the power of videography and quality listing photos pique buyers' interest and attract non-local buyers who may not be able to tour your home in person.
Practices open and responsive communication by clearly setting expectations, fielding questions whenever you have them, taking calls when you need help, providing feedback on everything from pricing to home improvements, and giving suggestions to help you get the most money from your sale. Ridgeview's agents practice good communication skills with their seller clients and use these same skills during negotiations with potential buyers and their agents.
Knowledge of local market allows agents to know what is selling and how to highlight your home's best features to get top dollar. Ridgeview agents are aware of seasonal trends in the local market and can help you determine the best time of year to sell for more money in less time.
Character Traits of Ridgeview Real Estate Agents
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Trustworthiness--our trustworthy agents will not try to persuade you to work with them by giving you an unattainable listing price; they set reasonable expectations, outline their responsibilities, and give you time to review the listing agreement before deciding to work with them.
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Sincerity--our agents are honest, even if it means saying things you do not want to hear--like your home is not worth what you think it is or that it needs improvement. They build a relationship with you based on honesty and keeping your best interest at heart.
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Integrity--our agents put their seller's needs above their commission. That means they will go above and beyond to move a deal forward, whether they are physically pitching in to get your home ready or buying a new light fixture that the buyer wants.
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Work Ethic--real estate is not a nine to five job, and Ridgeview agents understand and embrace this. They will not resent clients for reaching out to them outside of traditional working hours, and they will not take off on vacation without telling you.
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Empathy--Ridgeview agents know that sometimes plans change and not every deal works out. They will understand if you decide to take your home off the market, and they will not hold you to the commission agreement if you have had a change of heart.
Some additional thoughts on choosing an agent to take your home from listed to S-O-L-D:
The best real estate agent for YOU depends on
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Your real estate goals
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Your communication style
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The level of support you need
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Your personal values
Additional personal attributes to consider:
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Personality match--an agent who "gets" you
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Attentiveness--understands the level of support you need based on your home selling experience
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Similar values--your agent respects your personal value