Selling Your Home Tips
Agency Relationships
"Agency" relationships are established when real estate professionals work with buyers and sellers. As you start working with a real estate professional, you should receive a copy of Oregon's agency disclosure which explains in detail the agency relationship. Please ask for an explanation if the agency relationship is not clear to you. There are 3 kinds of agency relationships:
- Buyer's agent-represents the buyer during the home buying process. The buyer's real estate professional (agent) has a fiduciary responsibility to represent the buyer's best interests, including reasonable care, loyalty, and confidentiality.
- Seller's agent-represents the interest of the seller and has a fiduciary responsibility of reasonable care, loyalty, confidentiality and disclosure to the seller. A seller's real estate agent works to assist the seller in locating a buyer and in negotiating a transaction suitable to the seller's specific needs.
- Disclosed limited agent-represents the interests of both the buyer and the seller, during the same transaction. A dual agent has responsibilities to both buyer and seller and must act in the best interest of both parties. This can only be done with the written permission of both clients.
Preparing Your Home
First impressions are very important as buyers come to view your property.
- Enhance curb appeal by removing clutter, cleaning off any stains off the driveway and the home.
- Clean up the landscaping by removing weeds, trim and edge the lawn, prune shrubs, etc.
- Remove dead and dying flowers. Add color with hanging baskets or pots of flowers.
- Clean windows let the sun shine through.
- Clean the carpets to remove stains and/or odors or maybe even re-carpet as necessary.
- Repaint the interior of your home as needed.
- A spotlessly clean home makes a world of difference.
Showing Your Home
- Maintain your home in show ready conditions with the beds made, dishes put away, and your home clutter free. You will be ready to show your home at anytime an agent calls for a showing.
- Showcase your home as if guests were coming. Turn on lights, open blinds, hang your best towels, run the fireplace if it's cold outside, play soft background music, have fresh flowers in vases.
- During a showing, step out of your home for a walk in the park or run some errands. Buyers feel more relaxed if they are allowed to view your home on their own.
- Keep your pets in a safe and out of the way place.
- Put away any valuable jewelry and/or collectibles.
- For safety purposes, it's wise to only show your home to a buyer if the agent working with them is present.