Do you need to sell your house in Kansas City? In our latest post, we offer 5 things homeowners should know about working with a real estate agent in Kansas City to help sell your house.
When the time comes to sell your house in Kansas city one of the first things you might think about doing is to call a local real estate agent to get your house listed fast on the MLS. This strategy does work for some home owners, but there are a few things to know before hiring a Kansas City real estate agent.
The Fees Can be High
As a licensed agent I can tell you first had that sometimes the fees that sellers pay can be very high. If you decide to list your house with a Kansas City real estate agent, make sure that you know all of the costs and fees that go into a listing. You could potentially pay thousands in agent commissions when the house sells. While there is no rate set in stone and you can try to negotiate commissions, you can expect to pay 3-6% in agent commissions. That’s just the beginning. In addition to those fees you may find yourself having to shell out thousands for needed repairs and updates before the home is listed. Sometimes in order to have a successful listing you will end up paying marketing costs. This could include professional photography and even paying to have your home staged so that it looks its best to potential buyers. If you do get an offer once the home is listed there is a very good chance that the buyers will have an inspection done and ask for repairs to be made after seeing the inspection results. Add all of this to the holding cost, and it’s easy to see that selling your Kansas City home quickly became expensive.
It May Take Awhile
While this varies from neighborhood to neighborhood and city to city, it will typically take much longer for a traditional sale to be completed as opposed to a direct sale when working with a real estate agent in Kansas City. In fact, when looking at nationwide statistics, houses will take over two months to get an offer on average. While your house is listed, you will still have to pay taxes, maintenance, your mortgage, utilities, and insurance. Not to mention, you will have no idea how long the sale can take, giving you zero ability to plan ahead. Don’t miss out on your dream property because your house is caught up in a listing agreement that doesn’t make sense.
Not All Kansas City Agents Are The Same
In my experience working with various real estate agents in Kansas City, I can tell you that some care very much about the type of service they provide while others are simply there to get a check. The ones that don’t care encourage their clients to spend money on all sorts of unnecessary things just to try and get the house to sell. They push for expensive upgrades, encourage you to take less than the house is worth just so they can get that check. They could care less about you and how that is going to impact you financially. If you decided to list your house with a Realtor in Kansas City, make sure it is someone that has great referrals and is someone you can trust. Your House May Not Sell
Just because you list your house and ask for a certain amount, does not mean that you will get it. Many sellers get frustrated when they find themselves spending money t list their homes for sale, only to hear crickets. Just because you fix things up and spend money making the house look as good as possible, does not ensure you will get an offer. If you decide to list and spend money getting your house ready for the MLS, make sure that you won’t be devastated if you do not see the returns you are after. When working with a real estate agent in Kansas City, there is no guarantee if or when you will receive an offer. And if you do get an offer, they may try to negotiate for a lower price.
You Have Other Options
The good news is that hiring a real estate agent in Kansas City is not the only way to sell your house. For certain houses and situations, investing money into the property before selling it can be a huge waste. Factor in the commissions, holding costs, and closing expenses, and you could be looking at thousands of dollars down the drain. Another approach is to sell your house to a direct buyer such as PSR Home Buyers. Working with a direct buyer will allow you to sell your house in just a few short days without any fees deducted from the offer or money spent out of pocket. You’ll know exactly what to expect and when the closing will take place.
If you need to sell your house in Kansas City, be sure that you are aware of all of your available options and how they will affect you. People aren’t always aware of the costs, time, and frustrations a listing can entail. Homeowners have been known to brush off the idea of a direct sale because of the lower prices associated with them. However, once you factor in the time, money, and energy that goes into listing your Kansas City house, you will see that the selling methods will produce similar results. We encourage you to run the numbers for your property so you can choose the option that makes the most sense. Please reach out to us if you have any questions about what we do and how we can help you sell your house fast in Kansas City!