FAQ about selling a house

Q: How much needs to be done to my house before putting it on the market?

Many sellers have extreme anxiety over the thought of having to clear out and fix up their home, so much so that it can prevent them from putting the place on the market in the first place. But in most cases, there’s no need to panic here—or to overshoot your goals. Very often, there’s far less to do than homeowners think. So before spending months and millions (figuratively) upgrading your place—or just throwing up your hands and giving up before you begin—show your home to a Realtor®. You might be pleasantly surprised by how little actually needs to be done.

Q: How much is my house worth?

The price of your home will depend on its size, neighborhood, and lots of other factors. We tend to mentally inflate our home’s positives and airbrush out the flaws that are all too apparent to the eyes of buyers. People sometimes compare their house to the most expensive sale in the neighborhood. Instead, look at the prices of similarly sized homes that have recently sold in your area—” Casey Gores Realty will recommend a list price of your home based on an in depth fact based analysis. If you price too high, the home is likely to linger on the market. Competitive pricing can have major upsides, resulting in multiple offers that could ultimately yield more than expected.

Q: How long will it take to sell my home?

Right now, nationally, houses are selling very quickly due to extremely low inventory, creating a larger buying pool. To capitalize to your fullest potential, be sure to hire Casey Gores Realty, as we have evidence of our success.

Q: Is staging really important?

The short answer is YES! On average, a staged home sells 88% faster—and for 20% more money—than a home that’s left as is. The reason it works, of course, is it gives buyers a “stage” onto which they can play out their home-owning fantasies and envision themselves living in your home. Choose neutral paint colors and remove any family photos. Give would-be homeowners a blank canvass that they can mentally fill with their loved ones and themselves. Casey Gores Realty believes in staging so much, we pay  a professional stager to make our listings look like a model home. 

Q: What is the agent’s commission?

While the commission can vary and is negotiable, it typically ranges from 5% to 6% of a home’s sale price—and historically it has been shared with the buyer’s agent.  Sellers pay the Lsting Broker /agent and the Listing Broker/agent shares its commission with the Selling Broker/agent.What are Realtors doing to earn that fat check? Here are some facts to keep in mind: Unlike lawyers who get paid by the hour, or doctors who are paid by the appointment, listing agents don’t get paid unless they make a sale. For every hour an agent spends with a client, he or she will typically spend many more hours working on that client’s behalf.  And no, not all agents are created equal. Since most contracts last for several months, it is recommended that sellers “interview more than one agents prior to selecting one to represent them. It’s no different from choosing an attorney, accountant, or the doctor. You want to be sure that you trust that person and are comfortable with them.”