Buying & Selling Your Home

One of the first steps in buying or selling a home is choosing a real estate agent, Realtor or buyer’s agent. Both a real estate agent and a Realtor are licensed, but a Realtor also belongs to the National Association of Realtors. In most real estate transactions, even if the purchaser works closely with a Realtor or real estate agent, the agent is actually putting the interests of the seller first. A buyer’s agent, however, works solely for the purchaser. They must put the buyer’s interests first, keeping his concerns in the forefront. If you do choose the representation of a buyer’s agent, you must execute a buyer’s agency contract.

Regardless of the type of agent selected, someone must pay for this expertise. According to the professionals, the seller pays the commissions of both the seller’s agent and the buyer’s agent. These fees are simply built into the list price of the home.

The real estate professionals we talked to also urge prospective clients to interview more than one person for the job. “Get a sense of how they work,” a local Realtor explains. Obtain references, both from their clients and from among your own family and friends. “A good 92 percent of what I do is personal referral,” she notes.

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In addition, ask how long the agent has been in the business and whether he or she is full- or part-time. Ask to see the documents you are required to sign ahead of time and about his or her ethical philosophy. An expert reveals that Wisconsin is one of the best places to buy a home because real estate licensees have a high level of accountability here.

Despite the temptation, experts suggest thinking twice before choosing an agent who is a relative or friend. If something goes wrong, the bad experience might hang around a lot longer than would otherwise be the case.

If you are selling your home, make sure to hire an agent that possesses three things: honesty, integrity, and a strong marketing plan for your house. They will know the inner workings of selling your home, including contracts and identifying qualified buyers, and will also have access to a large pool of potential buyers. For the agent’s fee, you may get information about moving and financing, the benefit of presence on the internet, and Multiple Listing Service (MLS), and you’ll have the expertise of other Realtors who work with your agent. There’s also a certain amount of credibility once that real estate sign goes up in your yard, particularly with potential out-of-town purchasers.

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But hiring an agent to help sell your home isn’t the end of a seller’s responsibility. You should follow your professional’s advice to make prospective buyers think “home” when they walk in the front door.

“Make your house as neutral as possible,” another area Realtor advises clients. Paint walls a neutral color. Box up as many of your extraneous possessions as is practical. If possible, store these things off site. “Make it look as big as possible.”

A third Realtor suggests clients organize closets and clean carpets and appliances to present a fresh face to potential buyers. “Neatness counts,” she insists. “Have your home ready to show at all times.”

Curb appeal shouldn’t be overlooked, either. The yard should be neat and welcoming, with the grass cut and trimmed and the garden areas weeded. In the winter, keep those walkways shoveled. A wreath on your door is welcoming and bright flowers are friendly. Look at your home through a stranger’s eyes to see what small touches will create an inviting, homey impression.

More and more agents are taking on the responsibility of making your home attractive to prospective buyers. This practice, called “staging,” not only makes your home appeal to a wider number of buyers, but also allows you to sell your house faster and for more money. You can stage a house yourself, hire a Stager to advise you, or hire a Stager to do the actual staging. One Realtor we talked to stages her listings as a service to her clients and has received immediate results from the houses she has staged.

But what does staging entail? Stagers move furniture around or remove it to make a room look larger. They may put away artwork made by your kids so it will not be a distraction to potential buyers that don’t have children. Sellers need to remember that a Stager is not telling you how you should live in your home but how to arrange your house to create more appeal for buyers. This often requires packing up personal photos and mementos and digging out items packed away in storage such as throws, pillows and artwork to better accessorize. Oftentimes your Stager will have his or her own collection of plants, accent pillows, and pictures they can use to dress up your home and accentuate its best features.

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