6 Things to Know Before Using the NJ MLS Listings to Sell By Owner

Pros and cons of attempting to sell your home with the NJ MLS Listings

Selling a home can encompass many different things for many different people. From inherited properties to personal properties, every homeowner can look forward to there being work, time, and effort ahead of them. Many people that attempt to sell their homes themselves do so because they believe they can save money by not having to pay commission to an NJ real estate agent. However, many times those homeowners find that the true cost of selling a home themselves is found in the substantial amount of time and effort they must spend to do it or wind up paying even more money repairing a costly mistake that could have been avoided with proper guidance. Selling a home is a full-time job, and homeowners should make sure they are aware of all the pros and cons prior to attempting to do it themselves.

Below you will find some things to consider when selling your home yourself using the NJ MLS Listings:

Receiving non-honest feedback

When a homeowner chooses to try to sell their home themselves, they are opening themselves up to receive feedback from buyers that is not always honest. The reason for this is that when showing buyers a home where the seller is present, the buyer is hesitant most times about being honest and verbal about the dislikes of the house. Most often when Realtors show homes listed in the NJ MLS listings to buyers, they provide true and honest feedback to the listing Realtor. This can in turn help the home sell faster.

You may be limiting accessibility to your home

Prospective buyers like to be able to view a home when it is convenient for them, not when it is necessarily convenient for the seller. Because of this, most Realtors suggest using a lockbox for the property when it is for sale in the NJ MLS listings to maximize expediency for everyone involved. If a homeowner has listed his or her home by owner in the NJ MLS listings, they would need to be available at any given moment to show the home. Part of a Realtor’s job includes accommodating showings when the owner is unavailable.

The home may be priced incorrectly

Consulting with a Realtor is really the best way to get an idea of the average sale price of homes in that specific area. Relying on neighbors’ opinions and advice is not a smart way of choosing your list price and can prove to be a big mistake in the future. This is especially true of older homes in neighborhoods where the updates and upgrades can vary widely from home to home.

You are responsible for the marketing of your home

Any experienced NJ Real Estate agent will be able to enter your home and let you know exactly where you stand against the competition. Many agents in today’s industry find that in addition to the NJ MLS listings, internet marketing is the best way to provide exposure to the most amounts of potential buyers. In fact, 95% of buyers start their home search using the internet! A savvy Realtor will be able to post your home on every major home site in order to be found by every buyer looking in your area.

You may not be experienced in home staging

Home staging goes beyond the basic cleaning and de-cluttering of your home. The first step in doing so requires locating each room’s focal point and using furniture placement to highlight that. Examples of home staging can be moving a sofa that might be blocking the view of a fireplace or arranging items on shelves and bookcases to draw attention to predetermined areas. Most Realtors have some experience in home staging or has a professional contact in the field of staging. Having your home looking its best can increase the likelihood of it selling quickly when it is for sale in the NJ MLS listings.

You will need to do your own negotiations

A knowledgeable Realtor will be able to guide you through the negotiation process and provide a level of distance between buyer and seller in order to keep emotions uninvolved and to also keep all obligations documented and timely.

 

The Real Estate market is changing rapidly and expanding into new avenues almost daily. Sometimes it can be very difficult to find the answers you need on a specific topic or issue. In times like these, you need a Real Estate professional who will provide valuable information and trustworthy advice. For more information on NJ Real Estate, call us today or click here to be connected with one of our top Real Estate specialists.