Posts by Elsy Henriquez

A lot can be said about selling your home yourself versus using an agent. For all intents and purposes, let's assume you made the best move for your investment and chose an ERA REALTOR® to sell your home in 2021 and beyond. After taking that no-brainer first step, here are a few things to consider with your agent:

1. One of the most important things you can get right (or wrong) is displaying your home to potential buyers. Unless you have mastered iPhone photography or are a true professional, you'll want to hire a pro, or have your ERA agent hire a photographer. The ROI for this is huge considering you're selling for a considerably large sum at the end of this process. When the first look of your home is online (and likely on a smartphone) make sure you're putting the best curb appeal out there on the web.

2. You and your ERA agent will want to ensure buyers coming forward are qualified. Yes, you want as many potential buyers as possible – but quality matters. Additionally, because of COVID, safety matters too. Limiting foot traffic is important and also allows sellers to only consider serious buyers. A simple way to get your qualified buyers is with their pre-approval letter. Details in a pre-approval letter will help you answer questions like how strong is this potential buyer? Can they put down 20% or only 3%? Homes in 2021 are still being scooped up above asking and even above appraised value. Keep your home in the mix with good candidates!

3. This last move is tricky but it's literally THE move. Be prepared for your next home purchase (yay multi-tasking). Begin looking at homes immediately as if your property has already been sold. Selling and buying a home concurrently can be undesirable to the next home seller but don't let that deter you from navigating through this balancing act. One solid consideration to remember is, the less contingencies, the better! You should have a good idea of what the sales proceeds will look like and how much you'll be able to afford on the next purchase. Trust your ERA agent, do your homework, and take the time to do things right. You won't regret it.

5 Things Your REALTOR® wants you to know

Prioritize what you want in a new home, but always be prepared to compromise.

Having more than five non-negotiable "must-haves" is going to make finding a home almost impossible. Going into the process prepared to compromise and prioritize will make it a whole lot less stressful for you and for us!

Definitely make location your number one priority, because it's the one thing you cannot change.

There are many things you can change about a house to make it a home, but that won't matter if it's too far from work, stores, or is out of range of cell service.

Get a mortgage pre-approval before you start house hunting, so you know exactly what you can afford.

Most realtors and buyers will not entertain your offer without it. Period.

Always be honest about any issues with the home you're selling.

When selling a house, be honest about any issues it has on any disclosures. If you try to sweep something under the rug it will almost always come back to haunt you later.

If you don't know something, just ask! Your real estate agent is prepared to answer any and all questions you may have about the buying or selling process.

Make sure to ask a lot of questions. Our job is to make sure you feel comfortable in your decision and have all the tools you need to be successful in your home buying experience. Don't ever feel as though you're bugging your agent or broker with your questions.

ERA Real Estate Professionals houses the most knowledgeable agents worldwide (seriously, we do). So, there won't be a question or issue we have not heard or handled before. We're always in your corner so trust us – we know how big a deal this journey is for you!

Got the FSBO blues? All hope is NOT lost. Your house is a huge investment and while it feels difficult to trust that in the hands of a complete stranger, you definitely want an expert to guide you through this. The sale of your home should be so well-executed that you don't have to do much but follow your agent's lead…so listen.

#1 – They Understand the Market & Where It's Going

You go to work and you know what you do day in & day out. You're the expert in your field. Our ERA REALTOR® guarantee is no different. We house the most knowledgeable agents that stay current on market trends. You won't have to know how to defend your home in a sale against other agents because that's what an agent loves to do – be there for you.

#2 – They Know the Neighborhood

…and surrounding neighborhoods! The beauty of having a real estate agent work for you is that they come equipped with knowledge of the locality where your home stands. It's like getting a custom superhero at your doorstep. With this level of expertise, you can trust that the agent won't steer you wrong and will know how to get you the best deal for your home.

#3 – They Have a Network

Agents have what they like to call a sphere of influence. If its one thing to remember about any real estate agent is that they LOVE to share details. The nature of agents includes collaborative efforts and teamwork. The industry relationships they build benefit everyone in a transaction at the end of a sale. When you hire a real estate agent you get to tap into their network and utilize it for your convenience, peace of mind, and bottom line in your home sale. From staging your home, to getting you an honest reliable home inspector, you will find worth in your agent. What you won't find is a headache at the end of this process so thank me later & happy home selling!