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Things Real Estate Agents Do When Selling Their Homes

By
Real Estate Agent with Century 21 Pro-Team

Today's tip is from my real estate guide "22 Things Real Estate Agents do to their Own Homes Before Selling". One of our jobs as an agent is to suggest improvements that our clients can to do improve the saleability of their homes. Many of us have years of experience observing what sells a home and what prevents one from selling. This can be invaluable advice for home sellers - but some often wonder, do REALTORs actually do the things they suggest to their OWN homes before selling. The answer is a definately YES. As a REALTOR, I understand the importance of a perfectly staged home both on the bottom line and time on market. If you've ever been curious about some of the top things agents do to their own homes before selling here are the top 5 from my real estate guide:

The Exterior

Agents understand the value of "curb appeal". To beautify the exterior of the home, they focus on the driveway, entranceway, landscaping and front door:

1. The front lawn and shrubs are manicured. Gardens are mulched.

2. All clutter is removed from the front lawn.

3. Craks in the driveway and walkway are fixed.

4. Gutters and downspouts are cleared and in working order.

5. The front door is repaired or replaced if needed.

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Comments(3)

Bill Williams
Coldwell Banker Tomlinson Group - Boise, ID
Eric, how about "get a home inspection before listing"?  I've had my home checked before listing, just so I know beforehand what the inspectors are going to see.  When you live in a home for a number of years, whether you are an agent or not, you tend to develop "blind spots" when you look at your own home.  The fresh, critical eyes of a home inspector can save the seller some grief just as surely as later on they might save the buyer.
Jan 20, 2007 04:27 AM
Eric Rogers
Century 21 Pro-Team - Aurora, IL
Bill I haven't really been touting the pre-listing home inspection too much, although it wouldn't be a bad idea to suggest. I guess there's two ways of looking at inspection issues also. Some feel it's better to know about them before listing the property so they can be remediated. However, I know others would rather not turn up unknown problems prior to an inspection by a buyer - some feel it would be better to negotiate those issues with a party already interested in the home. But then again, those issues just might kill a deal - so it's a tossup.
Jan 20, 2007 07:02 AM
John Novak
Keller Williams Realty The Marketplace - Las Vegas, NV
Henderson, Las Vegas and Summerlin Real Estate

I'm thinking of adding a lawn maintenance company to my listing plan so that's one less thing the seller has to worry about. For $50-75 I know the outside of the home will look great, so now the seller can focus on keeping the inside clean and show ready. And when our Las Vegas temps hit 100+, I think that's something that sellers will really appreciate.

Jan 20, 2007 05:05 PM