07.15.11
Posted in Jackson MS real estate tagged Jackson MS real estate agents, Jackson MS real estate sellers at 7:00 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
Here are five tips to help you identify the best Metro Jackson MS real estate agent to get your home sold as fast as possible and for the most money.
- Hire a full-time Metro Jackson MS real estate agent. Part-time agents typically have less experience and fewer sold properties under their belts than full-time agents. Because part-time agents usually have another job, they don’t have as much time to take care of your needs and market and show your home to potential buyers. Full-time agents have bigger networks they can enlist to help find a buyer for your home.
- Find a skilled negotiator. A seasoned Metro Jackson MS real estate agent understands the psychological nature of selling a home. They advise you during the contract negotiations to ensure you get the best deal while alleviating your stress.
- Pick an aggressive marketer. Without a well-implemented, far-reaching marketing program, your house will sit on the market these days. You want an agent who promotes your home both online and offline, in order to reach the greatest number of potential buyers. Simply having your home listed on Realtor.com is no longer enough of an online presence. You want your home showcased on multiple websites with a lot of professional photos and, ideally, a video tour.
- Choose an agent who knows your neighborhood. Each neighborhood has different pros and cons which must be promoted or overcome by the agent. An effective agent knows how to price your property because they know the local competition, which homes that have closed recently are similar to yours and how much they’ve sold for.
- Ask for home staging services. Home staging is no longer a “nice to have;” it’s now a “must have,” if you want to sell your home for the most money in the least amount of time. Many agents are now professional stagers or have a home stager on their teams.
Choosing a powerful listing agent is your first step toward a successful home sale.
If you’d like to work with an agent who is a skilled negotiator, an aggressive marketer, a professional home stager who provides home staging services and works full time, give me a call today at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com.
KeyTrust Properties Paula Ricks
Paula Ricks Broker/Owner, REALTOR®
220 W Jackson St, Suite 200, Ridgeland MS 39157
601-942-3392
www.PaulaRicks.com
Tags:
Jackson MS real estate agents,
Jackson MS real estate sellers
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02.23.11
Posted in Jackson MS real estate tagged Jackson MS real estate sellers at 7:00 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
For some frustrated sellers, the answer to “Why isn’t my home selling?” is “It’s the agent’s fault!” If your immediate instinct is to drop your metro Jackson MS real estate agent for a new one, you might want to take a deep breath and consider the following:
1. Do you think agents are like lottery tickets? Going through metro Jackson MS real estate agents as fast as scratch-off lottery tickets isn’t going to get your home sold faster. In fact, it usually slows down the process.
2. Is your home priced correctly? That’s probably the number one difference between homes that sell fast and homes that sit on the market. A poorly priced home could be your agent’s fault. Then again, you could be partially to blame. Did you insist on a specific price even though your agent strongly recommended a lower price? Did you refuse to lower the price when your agent suggested lowering it? If you’re inflexible about price, switching agents will not help.
3. Did you make the home improvements recommended by your agent? If your agent suggested you paint, clean carpets, reduce clutter or complete any other inexpensive, easy-to-accomplish task, and you didn’t do it, you’re greatly reducing your opportunity to get your home sold. You chose to work with your agent because he is a knowledgeable professional. Take his advice and get those home improvement tasks done now.
4. Has your listing agreement expired? If your listing contract has expired, this is the perfect time to consider switching agents. Go back to the start, identify 3 new agents and interview the agents. If you find one that fits your needs better than your current agent, let your agent know you won’t be renewing your contract.
5. Did your agent market your home? If your agent has not done all the marketing he promised, point this out and ask him when he’ll get the marketing in place. Follow up to be sure it’s done on time and professionally. If he still doesn’t market your home like he said he would, it may be time to switch agents.
6. Are you being impatient? If you made all the home improvements recommended by your agent, your home is properly priced, and all marketing tasks are completed, you may just need to have a little patience. This is a slow real estate market. That means your home isn’t going to sell overnight. Ask your agent the average number of days it takes a home to sell in your area, then wait that length of time before thinking about changing agents.
Don’t replace your agent just because you don’t know what else to do. You’ll be wasting time and effort. Instead, work with your agent to determine what else can be done to get your home sold.
If you decide to search for a new metro Jackson MS real estate agent, I’d be honored if you’d allow me to interview for the job. Call me at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com to schedule an interview.
Paula Ricks
REALTOR® and Broker Associate
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
443A Northpark Dr, Ridgeland, MS 39157
Call Direct: 601-942-3392
Office: 601-956-8533
Email: Paula@PaulaRicks.com
Web: www.PaulaRicks.com
Tags:
Jackson MS real estate sellers
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07.07.10
Posted in Jackson MS real estate tagged Jackson MS real estate sellers at 7:00 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
You don’t list your metro Jackson MS home for sale on a whim; you don’t just decide you don’t like the one you have. Selling a home carries significant financial, emotional and family repercussions. Selling your home is one of those life decisions, the ones you discuss with your spouse, look over with professionals and use experts to move forward.
While you might have been able to list your metro Jackson MS home for sale and have it sold quickly at the beginning of the decade, that’s no longer the case. Now, you have to be truly motivated in order to get your home sold. Unmotivated sellers, those without concrete reasons, are not serious sellers.
If you’re a motivated seller, on the other hand, you have several new marketing weapons at your disposal. These include government incentive programs, short sale practices, state-of-the-art technology and creative marketing plans to help consummate the transaction.
Are You A Motivated Seller?
So, think about it. Are you a motivated seller? There are a number of reasons people are motivated to sell. These reasons include:
- Lifestyle Change – The time for a quieter way of life has arrived. The nest may be too empty. You may want more freedom and less household commitment. In any case, a change of lifestyle is a very strong motivation to sell.
- Relationship Changes – Partners get together and partners divide. Marriage, divorce and newborns all set the stage for household change.
- House Too Small – As families expand, it can be more cost effective to move rather than over-improve. For example, it can cost over $10,000 for a room extension on your home.
- Time to Upgrade – Prior to the recession, American families moved an average of seven times per marriage. Although those numbers have dropped some, we do still seem to seek the greenest pastures.
- Changes in Neighborhood – Many homeowners move because of local community issues. A school system may trim budgets or the homes may not be increasing in value. A desire for neighborhood change could be your motivation.
- Health Issues – People with health issues who cannot continue or afford household upkeep are moving to smaller, more protected and service oriented communities. If this is you, you can definitely consider yourself a motivated seller.
If you’re motivated and have a metro Jackson MS home for sale, you already know the market is competitive. However, professional representation, an astute marketing plan and expanded reach can help you locate the perfect buyer.
Are you a motivated seller? This professional real estate agent would be honored to help you get your home sold. Call me at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com for more information.
Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
443-A Northpark Dr, Ridgeland, MS 39157
Office: 601-956-8533
Call Direct: 601-942-3392
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
www.PaulaRicks.com
Tags:
Jackson MS real estate sellers
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05.17.10
Posted in Jackson MS real estate tagged Jackson MS real estate sellers at 7:00 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
So, you’ve decided you want to sell your house. You know it qualifies as one of those “ugly houses,” but you don’t want to do any work to your home. You especially don’t want to do major repairs or updates like replacing all the windows with broken seals.
You may think that means real estate agents will not want to list your home for sale. Think again. Metro Jackson MS real estate agents sell ugly houses, too!
Here’s what you should expect if you have an ugly house that you don’t want to make improvements to:
- A lower price: Maybe you don’t have the time, energy, money or know how to make improvements to your home. That doesn’t mean it won’t sell, it just means the price has to be low enough to convince a buyer that it’s worth the time and money they’ll have to spend to get it into shape. An experienced Metro Jackson MS real estate agent can do the necessary research to come up with the right price to get your home sold.
- A smaller number of potential buyers: In today’s market, most homebuyers are looking for that perfect home. The one they can move in to without doing any work. Since your home doesn’t fit that description, you’ll lose those homebuyers. Typically, homes like this will sell to Metro Jackson MS real estate investors or buyers who enjoy fixing up houses.
- A longer time on the market: Because of the smaller number of potential buyers, it may take a bit longer to sell your home. Because of the lower price, you’ll probably have several lookers, but getting someone to purchase it will most likely take longer than normal.
Don’t say you’re going to sell your house someday, when you get all the repairs and upgrades completed, if you know in your heart that isn’t reality. Sometimes it’s worth taking a lower price and moving on.
Whether your home is gorgeous, ugly or somewhere in between, I can help you get it sold. Give me a call today at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com for more information.
Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
Ridgeland, Mississippi
www.PaulaRicks.com
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
Call direct: 601-942-3392
Tags:
Jackson MS real estate sellers
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11.09.09
Posted in Jackson MS real estate tagged Jackson MS real estate sellers at 7:00 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
Yes, it’s true. Metro Jackson MS real estate agents get a chance to see more of the city and surrounding areas than most of the people who live here. It’s a beautiful place to live, and I’m glad to be a part of it. As Thanksgiving nears, and the leaves change color and fall, I get to see a whole other side of this place – which has given me the inspiration for another blog:
Spruce Up Your Home for Fall!
Most, and probably all, Metro Jackson MS real estate agents will tell you that good curb appeal can make a sale. What they may not realize is that using the seasons can help just as much. Truth be told, it didn’t click with me until I realized Thanksgiving is just around the corner and started thinking about the past.
This time of year always brings a nostalgic touch to the air for me, and many potential homebuyers feel the same way. The holidays have people thinking about hearth and home, family and friends. How can you use the season to sell your house?
Raking – Although many homeowners rake their yard, if your home is up for sale and sitting empty, you may not think about it. Yes, a colorful blanket of leaves on the ground can be beautiful, but to homebuyers it may come across as a lack of care on your part. If you don’t care about the home, why should they? If the home is empty, make sure to drop by and see if the leaves are piling up.
Redecorating – Most homeowners won’t take the time to decorate a home they’re selling, unless they’re still living in it. However, a little fall décor here and there can help bring out that nostalgic feeling in homebuyers. The key is to decorate just enough, and not so much that the homebuyers can’t see their own tastes.
Lastly, talk to us Metro Jackson MS real estate agents to get other ideas of what you can do to get your home sold. We’ve sold a house or two and love sharing our knowledge. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!
Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
Ridgeland, Mississippi
www.PaulaRicks.com
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
Call direct: 601-942-3392
Tags:
Jackson MS real estate sellers
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04.09.09
Posted in Jackson MS real estate tagged Jackson MS real estate agents, Jackson MS real estate sellers at 9:31 am by Mississippi Real Estate Agent
The biggest barriers to selling Metro Jackson MS real estate are often those you create yourself by wanting a quick sale or not learning all there is to know about presenting your home to its best advantage.
When you first begin to think about selling your home it seems easy. Put a sign on the lawn and list it. Once the shine wears off of the desire to do it all yourself, you might need some tips to help sell your home:
Clean It Up
That’s the first and foremost advice. Nothing deters a real estate sale faster than a messy house. Living in your home while trying to sell it makes it difficult to keep it clean, but if you’re serious about wanting to sell your home, it’s worth the extra effort. You may want to learn how to clean your home fast for those times when a buyer calls and wants to see your home in 15 minutes or less.
Take Good Pictures
Where do you think people search first for Metro Jackson MS real estate for sale? Online! Newspapers used to be the first place people looked for homes. But now, approximately 80% of all home buyers look online before searching anywhere else.
Due to cost and space limitations, newspapers usually display only one photo of the front view of the home. On the internet, where space is abundant, buyers expect to see lots of exterior and interior pictures, in fact, the more the better.
Not experienced at getting good room photos that show off your home to its best advantage? Hire a photographer or better yet, hire one of the top Metro Jackson MS real estate agents who can do it for you. If you should choose to list your home with me, I’ll have photos and a Virtual Tour taken of your home and they will be published on numerous online Web sites.
Hold an Open House
Or several. Selling your home takes time. If you are busy and can’t fit opening your home up to viewers into your schedule, you may want to list your home with a real estate agent who can do it for you. It’s better to leave your home in the hands of a professional real estate agent so you aren’t tempted to hover over buyers as they walk through. Hanging around discourages buyers from talking to each other about the qualities of your home and from taking the time to view and consider the true potential of your home.
Set the Stage for Success
Staging your home to sell faster and for top dollar is one of the best ways to prepare your home for sale. Need help with how to stage your home? No problem! As an Accredited Home Staging Professional (ASP), I know how to help you stage your home for a successful sale. And, in today’s Metro Jackson MS real estate market, it’s more important than ever. If you decide to list your home with me, I’ll be happy to give you a FREE staging consultation.
There are pitfalls you can get tripped up on when selling your home. If you’d like to work with one of the best Metro Jackson MS real estate agents, one who can help you maneuver around those pitfalls, give me a call today at 601-942-3392 or email me at Paula@PaulaRicks.com.
Paula Ricks
Coldwell Banker Nell Wyatt, Inc.
Ridgeland, Mississippi
www.PaulaRicks.com
Paula@PaulaRicks.com
Call direct: 601-942-3392
Tags:
Jackson MS real estate agents,
Jackson MS real estate sellers
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