Is the cost of a real estate agent’s commission worth it? (read more)

85% of home buyers use a real estate agent; 75% of home buyers use the internet to search for homes. After finding a home of interest, they typically drive by to check out the neighborhood. The average home buyer searches for eight weeks before purchasing a home.

Sellers Guide to East TN Real Estate

When it's time to sell your home it's not something you take lightly. There are some steps that you can take to help get the most return on your home. The first step is to find a good real estate agent to help guide you through the home selling process.

The Advantage of an Agent
If you've ever thought about selling your home, at some point, you probably considered selling it yourself. FSBO (For Sale By Owner) isn't a bad way to go, BUT, homeowners generally do not get the same prices as professional real estate agents. Even after an agent's fees, all the work that goes into selling a home generally makes hiring an agent a good investment.

KnoxRealEstate.org features some of the best agents in East TN. After choosing a real estate agent that's right for you, the next big step is determining what your home is worth. You can normally check out similar houses for sale in your area and price yours in that range. The maintenance you've done on the interior and exterior of your home can make a huge difference. If you've done anything to add value to your home, such as, new appliances, landscaping, new roofing, etc, the price will of course increase. A real estate agent will use the Knoxville MLS (Multiple Listing Service) to come up with a price for your home. Remember this will be a suggested price, the final decision is ultimately up to you.

Next, you'll want to get your home ready to show potential buyers. Open houses are a must in drawing interest to your home. Unfortunately, few sellers really understand just how important this can be. This is another great reason to have a real estate agent working for you. An agent can take an objective look at your home and make invaluable suggestions on how to make your home buyer-friendly. A good example is repainting. This cost very little, but can have a huge impact on potential buyers and add a great first impression. If you will listen to your agent and take their advise, it could mean the difference between a quick sale or your home sitting on the market for months. When someone makes an offer on your home, they will have probably been an open house attendant. Once an offer is made, your agent will handle most of the details for you, but remember, the final decision on price and sale will be yours.