Encountering issues with real estate agents in Zephyrhills is a common challenge for sellers. Explore key tips in our recent article!
While acknowledging the presence of excellent agents, it’s important to note that working with an agent may not always be the ideal approach to selling your home. Each home and seller’s circumstance is unique, which calls for various selling strategies. Before listing, evaluate all possible methods to sell your Zephyrhills home and select the one that best fits your needs. Below, we outline some typical challenges faced when collaborating with an agent.
Initial Expenses
Competing in the market requires your listed home to match up to other offerings, necessitating not just repairs, but also thorough cleaning and upkeep. You might also need to consider staging or placing some items in storage to reduce clutter. Rather than storing your items you may consider having a yard sale. If so, advertise it on the Pasco County Facebook Garage Sale page to get maximum exposure. These expenditures and tasks emerge even before you sign the listing agreement.
Marking Fees and Additional Costs
Not all agents provide comprehensive services. Some may ask for extra fees beyond their commission, or require you to manage certain marketing aspects yourself. Some agents might merely list your property on the MLS and do no more, leaving you to manage showings, queries, extra marketing efforts, and more. Understand exactly what your chosen Zephyrhills agent will offer before you commit.
Overstated Listing Prices
While not true for all agents, some may inflate your home’s listing price to secure your business. This high price might deter potential buyers, potentially elongating the sale process and necessitating future price reductions. A property that lingers on the MLS will not attract as much attention as new listings, making correct pricing essential from the start.
Unresponsive Agent
Being tied to an agent who fails to communicate effectively can be extremely problematic. A reputable agent should make you feel prioritized, promptly responding to calls and inquiries, and regularly updating you on your sale’s progress. You should not need to follow up repeatedly or chase them for information. They are supposed to work for you!
Restrictive Contracts
Finding yourself bound by a listing agreement can be very limiting. Many such contracts stipulate that the agent is owed their commission regardless of how the sale is made. This can be particularly frustrating if you end up doing most of the work, only for the agent to still claim their fee at the conclusion. To help combat this you can opt for a shorter listing period and always renew if needed.
Consider a Direct Sale
For numerous homeowners in the Zephyrhills area, selling directly may be a more advantageous option. This route eliminates the need for commissions, fees, repair costs, or marketing expenses. It also spares you the hassle of waiting for a buyer or dealing with potential sale failures.