Asking the right questions when selling your beach home is essential. If a seller asks the wrong questions, their house might stay on the market longer or sell for less money than they want. Glenn Phillips, CEO of Beach Homes Realty, gives both the wrong and correct questions to ask when selling your beach home.
WRONG Questions to Ask:
- Which agents have the most listings? Sometimes the agents’ number of listings is a sign of success. Especially in a hot market, however, many of the listings are often on the market forever and overpriced. An agent with a high number of listings may not be able to quickly move your house for the price you want.
- Which agents do I personally like the most? When you sell your beach house, you aren’t necessarily looking to make a new friend. You are most likely leaving the area and need someone to do business with. Choosing an agent who will help you reach your goals is your biggest concern when selling your beach house.
- Which agents have an office nearby? Buyers for beach homes come from all across the country. They don’t care if the agent has an office nearby. They have limited time and only care about viewing the property. An agent with an office may make you feel safe but adds no real value to the transaction.
- Which agents do I want to help? Sometimes, sellers may want to give their business to a family member or friend who is a new real estate agent. However, a veteran agent can help you maximize your sell price and bring you more money out of the transaction.
CORRECT Questions to Ask:
- Are all agents the same? This is a bit of an obvious one, but not all agents are the same. You should exclude agents that aren’t equipped to make you successful or reach your goals.
- Which agent is most capable of helping me achieve my goal? Having a goal to reach when selling your beach home is important. You want an agent who will match your goals, whether it’s selling quickly or getting a higher return.
- Is the agent focused on beach real estate? Property off the coast is vastly different from beach property. There are different rules and regulations, and the house market price will be different on the beach. Having an agent who understands the beach market can help you navigate the process more smoothly.
- Does the agent have a proven pipeline of out-of-town buyers? Buyers of beach property are often from a different state from where they are buying. You want to ask if your agent can demonstrate how they will feature your property for beach-focused buyers.
When selling your beach house, you need to ask the right questions. Asking the correct questions will lead to a smoother selling process. Be sure to visit beach-homes.com, where you can find agents who can answer all of your home-selling questions.