As a listing agent, my job is to address all those questions and make sure they have a full understanding of what to expect before their home hits the market.
Many of you might remember Kelvin Jenkins from earlier this year — he was our Bella Fella in February, 2020. We heard “A tale about hard work and love, great family, and best friends.” If you missed it, be sure to visit AikenBellaMagazine.com for “La ballade de Kelvin Jenkins,” written by Matthew Wynn. Kelvin, who represents Keller Williams, went live this year with his own team, Southbound Residential Group. He will be contributing a monthly “Home” column to provide advice on the ins and outs of real estate.
Kelvin says, “Whether you’re selling or buying a home, the process can be a crazy rollercoaster of emotions. When selling a home there are always a ton of questions and concerns. Do I need to paint? Update the appliances? What happens if majors issues are found during the inspection? And the mother of all questions — How much is my house worth? As a listing agent, my job is to address all those questions and make sure they have a full understanding of what to expect before their home hits the market.”
Things have changed in the real estate business. “Prior to year 2020 the listing process was a fairly simple process. Get professional photos, price the home based on the market’s demand, write a catchy description of the home, update the MLS, advertise, throw an open house, call your contacts, and pray the house will sell quickly. However, due to COVID-19, 2020 has been a year of change and adaptation for the real estate industry. For example, out of town buyers are now purchasing homes without even stepping a foot into a home. Sounds crazy, I know, but this is our reality. Luckily for us, the market has been on fire and it really hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down.”
Kevin shared with us that clients need to be pre-approved for their purchasing range before they begin to look at a house. The requirements for maintaining safety going in and out of people’s homes is a primary concern. There seems to be more of a focus on what is actually feasible, financially, rather than just looking at everything available.
Another change is the video walkthrough. The upfront cost of listing a house has gone up because there is a need for more in-depth photography and videography so that people can experience homes on their computers. Sometimes the video is recorded ahead of time, and sometimes the agent walks through with a live recording so the client can have a completely interactive experience. Drones have become a right hand to agents, allowing a better view of not only the property up for purchase but also the area surrounding the home.
“So, if you’re on the fence about selling, now is the time to sell. Low inventory, low interest rates, and eager buyers seem to be a perfect combination for anyone looking to place their home on the market. Let’s face it — 2020 has definitely changed our lives, but in the world of real estate, sellers are selling and buyers are buying. The question is this: Are you ready to take advantage of the times?”
