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Re: Steps to selling a home
So, it's not really necessary to get an appraisal done prior to selling your house, for most homes. By "appraisal," I mean hiring a certified appraiser to do a full report (which will cost a few hundred dollars -- usually around $400 for an average sized home on LI). The only times it may make sense to opt for an appraisal before listing is if you have a truly unique, hard to comp homes (but it's usually more high end homes that would fall into this category).
Most people will just have a real estate agent (or several) come in to give them a "comparative market analysis" or CMA. The real estate agent will look at your house, and then research recently sold homes in the area that are "comparable," and then give you a suggested value for the current market. The real estate agent can tell you things like what you should expect to sell it for, a recommended list price, average days on market for homes in the area, median selling price, market trends, etc. Such a market analysis from a real estate doesn't cost you anything -- agents provide this as a complimentary service (with the hopes of getting a listing, of course!).
The problem with googling and looking online is that a lot of info there is general or only applies to other areas of the country. All real estate is local, and there are local customs and procedures to be aware of.
I definitely recommend consulting with an agent. Most people find their agents through recommendations of family and friends, and/or look for real estate agents who work in their area.
You asked how to find a good real estate agent? I am a good agent!
Are you on LI? I work all over Nassau and Suffolk. I have recently sold some homes for LIF girls, and I can provide references, examples of my listings, etc. I create a single property website for each home I sell, and I am going to be running a promotion from now until the end of the year that anyone who signs a listing with me gets a free home staging consultation with an interior designer I work with frequently. I am an attorney, as well as a real estate agent, so I think I bring a lot of knowledge and expertise to the table (plus I have several years experience as a full-time, active agent).
The first step for me would be setting up a consultation with you, during which I would go over each and every step to selling the house (and answer your questions), as well as discuss issues like recommended pricing with you. There is no pressure or obligation to go forward - it's just an informational meeting.
If you'd like to set something up, you can FM me or contact me directly at [email protected] or (516) 587-7618.
Good luck!
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