Should I use a local Realtor to sell my house in Litchfield County?

This is a question I know people are asking. Should you use a local real estate agent to sell your house in Southern Litchfield County? Yes, you should and here are the reasons.

• All real estate is hyper local
• Local agents know the local market
• Local agents should be there for you as needed

Hyper local, what does that mean to you when you are selling your house? What is happening in one town, one area of town, may not be happening in another. A house that may appear to be a comp to your house to an out of town agent, because of its size or amenities will say something very different to an agent that knows the area. Knowing the local market means your agent can price the house according to hyper local real estate conditions. We have seen more than one home come on the market overpriced or even under-priced, and sometimes very seriously mis-priced.

Local agents know things out of town agents don't know. For instance, we have what we call "Caravan" on Thursday mornings, on Thursday afternoons we have what we call "broker open tours". Depending on the type of listing and location of the home for sale, one may be appropriate while the other is not, etc. Often times out of town agents miss the local caravan or broker open tours and miss a huge opportunity to showcase your home to the local agents. They miss the opportunity to get feedback from the agents.

In my area of Litchfield County we are in an overlapping multiple listing service area. There is one multiple listing service that we use more than the other, and that varies from town to town as to which is primary. (When you list your house, even with a local agent in the Southern Litchfield County area, make sure the agents belongs to both multiple listing services and will put your home on both.) Often out of town agents only belong to one multiple listing service and they have no idea the multiple listing service they used is not primary for the area.

I know I have been called on to check in on my listings for whatever reason. My clients are out of town, the agent showing the property cannot get in because they do not have the electronic keypad they need. This is usually when we use an electronic keybox, there are agents from other areas who do not have access to these and we have to meet them at the property and let them in with their clients. I have had many a listing where pets were of concern when showing the property, I have had to be there in some cases, or run by and check after a showing to make sure the pets are ok.

Some things to discuss:

1. How will the agent present your home to local real estate agents?
2. Is there more than one multiple listing service?
3. If there is more than one, does the agent belong to both?
4. If they belong to only one multiple listing service, is it the primary mls for your area?
   
5. Ask to see a local market report with explanations. (I prepare ours myself, I do not rely on anyone else for these very important statistics)
   
6. Ask about hyper local conditions that may affect the sale of your home.
7. Ask about lock boxes and local customs for showing.

There are many reasons why you should hire a local agent to list your house in Southern Litchfield County, CT, these are just a few of them. When interviewing agents to list your home, make sure you ask about the nuances of your local market and question the agents appropriately.

If you are thinking of selling your home in Southern Litchfield County CT, give us a call at 860.946.0686. We will discuss the hyper local real estate market with you and explain how it affects the price and saleability of your home.

Originally posted at Should I use a local Realtor to sell my house?

Swiedler, Pomerantz &Adams, the Luxury SPA Real Estate Treatment!

Searching for a home? We have an app for that! Text GLR to 87778 for your free app to search homes for sale right from your cell!

Search homes for sale in Litchfield County, CT.

Selling your home? Check our powerful marketing system.

Prudential Connecticut Realty, New Milford & Litchfield, CT

Prudential Connecticut Realty is a wholly owned subsidary of HomeServices,

a Berkshire Hathaway Affiliate

© Swiedler, Pomerantz & Adams, 2009 - 2012

 Always do right. This will gratify some people and astonish the rest. - Mark Twain