Need advice about selecting an Appraiser???
by
M B
+3
We are considering selling a home that has been in the family over 67 years.. Need advice how to select and go about getting an Appraiser, before putting it on the market to sell, and suggestions on how to find the right RE company? What are normal fees and charges in selecting both? Thanks..
6 answers
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You shouldn't need to get the house appraised, as the seller. The buyer pays for that when they apply for their mortgage loan. When it comes to getting a real estate agent, I have always heard to only sign a 3 month contract, that way you can change agents if they haven't delivered. If you want to know for your own purposes how much the house is worth, then do it. But I think it will be a waste of money.
Becky P
on Jul 16, 2013
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Becky... then how does one know what price to put o a home over 67years old?? thanks, I didn't know that you could do a 3 month contract.. very helpful.. I don't even know how to go about getting an appraiser....
M B
on Jul 16, 2013
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If we can assume that this home is in a neighborhood with other older homes, you can go to zillow.com, and enter the address in the search area,,,,,,,and you will get their estimate of the value of the home. Additionally, a good real estate firm can guide you as to the fair market selling price.. Good luck...GAry
LandlightS
on Jul 16, 2013
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yes, the real estate person will help guide you in a price.
Becky P
on Jul 16, 2013
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Real estate commissions are not set into stone. So you can barter with that fee. Get at least three agents in the home and have them appraise or do comps on the home and compare them to each other. It is typical to find some agents who over appraise the value making the seller think they can get more for the home then its really worth. Do not fall for that trick. The real agents that make a living in this business work on listings and let everyone else sell. They are the ones that over price the home, put it on market, and after a while then tell you that you need to drop your price. In the interim the other agents who did their homework and priced it at the right selling point lose out of the listing. Zillow on the internet can provide you with some local homes in your area and show you what they are selling for as well. Not a gospel with prices, but will get you around the area in which the home should be valued. Be sure when listing the home that your agent will advertize and hold open houses. Be sure to check that your open house is not conflicting with another from the same agency on the same weekend. If the house is properly priced and marketed you should see some action in a short while once listed. Properly priced homes often sell for more due to price bids that come in. If nothing seems to be happening it may have to do with price or the quality of the listing agent not doing their job. If they are leading their office in listings, I would steer clear, they are simply number people and really do not have your heart in mind. But shop around. Do not take the first agent that walks into the door. Be sure to get at least three and compare their selling skills. You may even want to go to some open houses in your area and introduce yourself as a prospective buyer and see how these folks work. Do not tell them your selling, just interested in knowing more about the home they are selling. If the listing agent is not present, and their helper is handling the open house. Stay away. You want only the listing agent to work with your home. Not sure what shape your home is in? Get a professional pre-sale home inspection done. These folks will tell you what you can expect from the buyer once a deal begins. You want to put yourself in a better position on what a buyer will ask for when it comes to the negotiations on the property. Get a landscaper in that does pre-sale prep work. They will edge the lawn, cut and clean shrubs and put in new mulch. Add a few flowers and paint the front door a bright inviting color. Often a new light fixture on the porch and a new mail box produces a better curb appeal. Clean windows. Remove screens from front windows. Install brighter light bulbs in all fixtures so all the rooms look brighter and bigger. Remove all personal belongings. It will be someone elses home, not yours and they need to be able to see their stuff in the home. Seeing your kids photos and your personal touches no matter how nice they are turns people off. Rent a storage bin and remove everything your not using for the season your not selling in. Closets should be just about empty. Remove extra furniture to make rooms look brighter. If you do not paint, be sure to brush any cobwebs that may have formed in corners. All of this will improve your chance of selling at more then your asking price. Assuming it was properly done. To much and the house will sit. Lowering the price in some markets is a black mark on the property. People will want to know why the price was lowered. Making them think your being dishonest or your hiding something in the home you do not want them to know about. Bottom line, ask several agents to do comps for you. Interview agents at other open homes to see how they act and sell. Good luck with your sale. Keep us posted on how you make out.
Woodbridge Environmental Tiptophouse.com
on Jul 17, 2013
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good job @Woodbridge!
Becky P
on Jul 17, 2013
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