The following is a list of frequently asked questions we receive from experienced and first time home-sellers alike. We’ve answered them as best we can and urge you to contact a GKR Residential agent if you have your own questions about selling a home.

What do I have to pay a broker to sell my home?
The fee to sell your home with a licensed real estate broker varies from company to company. There are discount brokers out there who charge a reduced fee, however, they typically do not provide the same level of service that you would receive from a full service firm (GKR Residential is a full service firm). You should ask any broker you consider what is, and is not, included in their fee so that you can make an “apples to apples” comparison when comparing companies.

How long will it take to sell my home?
This depends on a number of factors. Market conditions, the broker you hire, the location and condition of your home, and your pricing strategy all affect how quickly your home will sell.

Do open houses work?
Open houses are a great way to “open” your home up to a lot of potential buyers at one time, however, in a buyer’s market, we do not recommend that you open house your property too frequently for fear that it may become overexposed. Many buyers track specific properties with the hopes that a seller will reduce the price of their home if it does not sell after a number of open houses. If a home is “open house’d” for several weeks and it does not sell, many buyers will use this as leverage to submit a low-ball offer. Your home should be out there and available to buyers, but not overexposed.

What should I do to prepare my home before I sell it?
Because you can’t change the location of your home, the condition of your home ranks second on the list of most important factors in successfully selling a home. If there are any known material defects to your home, we recommend you either fix them or fully disclose those issues when marketing the property. A fresh coat of (neutral) paint can also go long way in giving a home a new look; and de-cluttering and organizing can make a home seem bigger and more spacious than it is. You should also keep the interior and exterior of your home clean at all times as you never know when a potential buyer might drive by or request a last minute showing.

Do I need a lawyer to sell my home?
We recommend you hire an attorney to review any legally binding documents you are asked to sign throughout the home-selling process. While your agent will be familiar with all of the documents you sign, he or she is there to help you sell your home and not to give you legal advice.