Selling a home involves many moving parts, and the real estate agent who lists your home plays a crucial role throughout the process. From helping you prep your home for sale to getting you to the closing table, a good listing agent will help you navigate the process, steering you through any bumps along the way.

Here’s a closer look at what you, as a seller, should expect from your agent during the process.

Preparing to Sell

For many people the desire to sell is there, but the long list of repairs or upgrades feels overwhelming. At Seda Real Estate Group, we offer our clients a unique program called Make Ready. Our team is here to help you through the process of prepping your home for sale. We work with contractors to help you get bids and navigate the various upgrades and/or repairs — in some cases, carrying the cost to closing, so you pay nothing up front. Be sure to ask our team about this option to see if it might work for you.

Initial Pricing Strategy

One of the most critical responsibilities of your listing agent is determining the right price for your home. This involves analyzing data and market trends, studying current inventory, and understanding what motivates buyers. Pricing a home correctly is both an art and a science.

Your agent will review recently sold homes to understand what appraisers will consider, and assess active listings to gauge your competition. The goal is to price your home in a way that maximizes your return without deterring potential buyers.

Pricing is a critical part of the process. If priced too high, your home might linger on the market, giving the impression that something is wrong with it. Conversely, pricing too low could mean leaving money on the table. Striking the right balance is essential.

Marketing Your Home

Once your home is on the market, your agent’s focus shifts to marketing. It’s crucial for them to ensure that your home receives maximum exposure.

Effective marketing can include a mix things, such as:

  • Online listings
  • Social Media Promotion
  • Open Houses
  • Neighborhood Flyers and Messaging
  • Reverse Prospecting
  • Etc. 

Your agent should be skilled in leveraging these strategies to attract as many potential buyers as possible.

Handling Showings and Feedback

When showings begin, your agent should actively follow up with prospective buyers and their agents. By reaching out, your agent can not only encourage showings, but gather feedback.

Feedback from showings and open houses can be invaluable. This feedback can provide insights into how your home is perceived by the market, helping to refine your marketing strategy and adjust your pricing or presentation as needed.

Negotiating Offers

When offers come in, your agent’s role is to negotiate on your behalf. This includes presenting you with a clear breakdown of any offers or counteroffers, explaining terms, and strategizing to meet your main objectives—whether that’s achieving the highest price, a smooth sale, or a quick closing.

At Seda Real Estate Group, we believe that it is important to have an agent who is solely focused on representing your interests, as a seller. Our listing agents do not double-deal as buyer’s agents, a fact that is somewhat uncommon in the market.

“I do not ever negotiate both sides of a contract,” she said. “It’s really important to me that I am 100-percent making sure that you (the seller) don’t leave a single dollar on the table.”

While many agents are willing to represent both sides — some even offer incentive to do so — our team believes strongly that it is our responsibility to ensure YOU are getting the best deal possible. Representing both sides would add a conflict of interest that might take away from our ability to fairly represent YOU, as the seller.

“I never want to be in a position where I’m negotiating against you,” said Becky Seda, lead agent for Seda Real Estate Group. “If someone calls off a sign, we have buyers agents on our team that will represent them. I will always only represent my seller. Period.”

Managing the Contract Process

Once you’re under contract, your agent will coordinate with various parties such as the buyer’s agent, the title company, and the buyer’s lender. They’ll ensure that inspections are scheduled and help you prepare for them, addressing any issues that arise.

Repair negotiations are another critical area where your agent should provide support. They’ll help you understand repair requests and obtain bids, ensuring you’re not agreeing to costly repairs without understanding the true expense. With a long list of trusted contractors on hand, your agent can also help schedule repairs, if needed.

Appraisals and Closing

Your agent will often work with appraisers to ensure that your home’s value is accurately represented. While the agent cannot directly influence appraisals, they can provide data and analytics that help ensure the appraiser doesn’t miss any information that could impact the appraised value.

Your agent will also review closing documents before you sign to ensure everything is in order. They will also help to arrange and navigate any special needs you might have regarding the closing process — signing early, due to a move, or handling other complicating factors.

Long-Term Support

Even after your home is sold, your agent should keep your contract on file for the required five years (and often longer). If you have questions in the future about the sale, you can reach out for assistance.

In summary, a good real estate agent is not just a facilitator but an active partner in the home-selling process. They should provide comprehensive support from pricing and marketing to negotiating and closing, ensuring that you achieve the best possible outcome for your sale.

If you’re considering selling your home, finding an experienced agent who excels in these areas can make all the difference. Our team at Seda Real Estate Group would love to help you.

If you would like to discuss the sale of your home, even if it may be a few months down the road, our team can help. Give us a call at 405-400-9973.