Choosing a Realtor:
Not all agents or brokers are REALTORS® — there is a difference.
As a prerequisite to selling real estate in Tucson, a person must be licensed by the state of Arizona, either as an agent/salesperson or as a broker. Before a license is issued, minimum standards for education, examinations and experience, which are determined on a state by state basis, must be met.
The term “REALTOR®” is a registered mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics (which in many cases goes beyond state law).
In making your decision to work with an agent, there are certain questions you should ask when evaluating a potential agent. The first question you should ask is whether the agent is a REALTOR® . You should then ask:
- Does the agent have an active real estate license in good standing? To find this information, you can check with your state’s governing agency.
- Does the agent belong to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and/or a reliable online home buyer’s search service? Multiple Listing Services are cooperative information networks of REALTORS® that provide descriptions of most of the houses for sale in a particular region.
- Is Tucson real estate their full-time career? And how long have they been selling homes in the Tucson area?
- What real estate designations does the agent hold?
- In exchange for your commitment, how will the agent help you accomplish your goals?
Pricing your home for sale:
Regardless of whether you’re selling a Foothills luxury home, or a modest Oro Valley Townhouse, the single most important factor to consider when selling a home in the Tucson area is the price tag. Pricing is all about supply and demand you don’t want to overprice your home because you will lose the freshness of the home’s appeal after the first two to three weeks of showings. After just a few weeks, demand and interest wane. Remember: The faster you sell your home, the more you save in regards to carrying costs and mortgage payments.
Comparable Listings and Sales
- Look at every similar home that was or is listed in the same neighborhood over the past six months. (e.g. Oro Valley vs. Sahuarita)
- The list should contain homes within a 1/4 mile to a 1/2 mile and no further, unless there are only a handful of comps in the general vicinity or the property is rural. (e.g. If your home is in Marana don’t compare it to homes in Central Tucson)
- Adjust pricing for lot size variances, configuration and amenities / upgrades.
Withdrawn & Expired Listings - Look for patterns as to why these homes did not sell and the common factors they share.
- Think about the steps you can take to prevent your home from becoming an expired listing.
Active Listings - These matter only as they compare to your listing, but bear in mind that sellers can ask whatever they want.
- To see what buyers will see, tour these homes. Make note of what you like and dislike, the general feeling you get upon entering these homes. If possible, recreate those feelings of reception in your own home.
- These homes are your competition. Ask yourself why a buyer would prefer your home over any of these and adjust your price accordingly.
Showing your Home to Potential Buyers
What things can you do to prepare a house for sale?
Clean.
Those nice angled vacuum lines, gleaming windows, and perfectly manicured lawns in model homes speak to a potential buyer. A super clean home says “turnkey” to the potential buyer. According to a national 2011 survey, a $290 cleaning investment gives a $1,990 price increase, or a 586 percent return!
Fresh and smells good.
People purchase things based on emotions, and your five senses are a direct path to your brain. If a home smells and looks “funky,” “doggy,” “smoky,” or if the stove is coated with cooking gone bad: The home is off their list.
Just like you would detail your car to sell it, invest in clean and spotless carpets, patched, repaired and freshly painted walls.
Make space.
The joy of a model home is the acres and acres of unused storage space and beautifully organized closets. Reduce, organize, upscale, and edit all of the home’s spaces when it comes to closets and storage areas
Clear a path.
Consider that many people with be walking through the home. Make sure traffic patterns, entrances, and exits are well established. Too much furniture, undefined entrances, and awkward walkways confuse and discourage buyers from moving about the property.
Set the mood.
Create ambiance and character in the home with well-thought out placement of sensory and lifestyle components. Soft music, lighting on dimmers and fresh floral are all great ideas. Offering helpful lifestyle hints has always been a tool in the model home arsenal and always is a huge hit.
