Listing FAQs
When I hire you, who will I be working with?
Unlike some agents who take a hands-off approach with their listings, when you hire me, you will be working with me directly throughout the process. My assistant and Gibson team will be involved behind-the-scenes, and looped in on some communications but I will be your primary contact.
How much work do I have to do to get my home ready to sell?
This is largely up to you. When I tour your property, I’ll be asking you questions and taking notes, and then will make suggestions about what you might want to do to increase your property’s appeal and generate the highest price. I’ll prioritize my suggestions and work with you to determine the best approach for your particular situation.
What is the typical timeframe for selling homes in this area?
The “preparation” phase of listing your home, which includes readying the property, taking photos and floor plans and writing and designing marketing materials, generally takes at least a week. We typically “go live” on MLS the following Wednesday, and begin showings on Thursday.
After experiencing several years of a hyper-competitive sellers' market, recent economic developments have shifted things a bit more back to normal. Homes that are priced and marketed well are still selling for strong prices, often in the first week, but some require a few weeks or longer on the market.
When you do have an accepted offer, the timeframe to closing can be as short as two to three weeks for a cash deal, or 30 to 60 days for a financed transaction.
What is your fee to sell my home?
My fee is 2.5% of the sale price (3.5% fee for listings where a relocation company is charging a referral fee). It is my recommendation that sellers also offer 2.5% to the broker who brings the buyer.
What is included in your fee?
My fee includes all time and all expenses incurred to market and sell your home. The only exception being any work you undertake to ready your home for market and professional staging, if you opt for that.
What other expenses should I anticipate in selling my home?
Your main two additional expenses will be your attorney fees (about $1500) and Massachusetts tax stamps ($4.56 per $1000 of sale price), both of which are deducted from the proceeds of the sale at closing. Other than that, there are nominal fees from your City for the required smoke/CO-detector inspection and final water and/or oil readings (if necessary), and sometimes fees from your condo’s management company to prepare and provide certain documents.