I spent a lot of time researching realtors and interviewed several at our house before making a choice. My research told me to watch for realtors that come in with a vision of putting a big price on the house and then negotiating down to a much lower price over time as the house doesn't move and develops a "stink" on the market. Therefore, I asked about and looked into the spread between their average suggested selling price and what the houses eventually sold for. That was very instructive.
Secondly, I looked at the reviews. I wanted a realtor with a lot of reviews that told me actual information and provided metrics. I was amazed to see so many reviews along the lines of, "I felt that she was more than just a realtor, she was a friend. Over the 18 months it took the house to sell (!?!?!?) she would stay in contact all the time..
I don't want another friend. I want my house sold..
When you go through Amy's reviews, you see a consistent string of "She proposed this course of action and this is what happened." Metrics. Quantifiable results. "The house went up for sale on a Friday and sold x number of days later for x amount." "She suggested putting it up for x amount and expected a bidding battle. That happened and the house sold for x amount more than the asking price.". When she came to see the house, she was prepared with a feel for the neighborhood and market, not just local, but also who was looking for such a house. She identified such a basement ranch and the particular market it attracted. She suggested an asking price (actually a bit more than I figured) and felt it would go quickly. When I asked her what the spread was between her usual initial prices and final sale prices, she said 3% with no hesitation. She doesn't believe in overpricing a house to tempt the seller when that will just make it sit. When asked if pricing it @ $5k higher would be okay, she was very clear that, if she thought it was worth pricing higher, she would have. That's what I want out of a professional. Clear and honest advice going in and clear, delineated expectations from both sides..
She felt it would sell quickly and possibly above asking price. We felt pretty good turning the job over to her..
Once we did, her team went to work..
This is a good point to note what a good team does, over and above just having a realtor enter you into the MLS system and wait. Her people were in immediate contact with us. The photographer was scheduled, the documents were run through an online system with constant checks to assure nothing was missed. .
One of the great things was the new 3D, virtual reality, immersive walk through. This is new technology that allows you to actually walk through a sale house, room to room, look up and down, side to side and inspect everything close up. No static pictures; this is like being there. The day the photographers came, they were preceded by a very good stager. She swept through the house, moving this, hiding that and adding touches that had an incredible effect on how the house showed. By the time she was done, the house looked like something from an Architectural Design magazine! We were proud of that house. The photographs were top quality and the immersive walk-through was astonishing. (Take a look at one on her website.).
Long story short; the house went on the market on Friday night. We had showings starting Saturday morning. It sold on Monday afternoon for more than the asking price. (Only took that long because the people who put in the bid on Sunday had to wait for offices to open the next day.).
The buyers were local and had been captured by the clarity of the pictures and description, recognizing their dream house..
The smooth process continued through the closing and beyond. They even were able to arrange the closing on our new Tennessee home to be done in their offices the same time we did the closing on the old house..
Through it all, Amy and her team were pitch perfect. Denise Sullivan, in particular, was like a personal guide through the process..
We could not have been happier with our choice..
I would advise any seller to keep in mind that they're not looking for a buddy. They're looking for a professional to sell their house and do it quickly. Look at the numbers. Look at the reviews and, most importantly, look at the metrics. Numbers don't lie..
Make sure to talk to more than one realtor or you are probably a chump. And I strongly suggest making sure Amy is one of those you talk to..
Sold a home in Crystal Lake, IL