Learning how to sell a house in Jacksonville takes preparation. Sellers, often their own worst enemies, make mistakes that drive homebuyers away. Sellers in the Jacksonville area who do not hire a real estate agent who is familiar with the local housing market are making a huge mistake.

Call an Agent

Finding the right information that will help sell your house can be daunting. A well-qualified, competent real estate agent completes the research for the home seller. She has at her fingertips information that is pertinent to finding a home in the Jacksonville area and will be privy to facts that sellers will not find on their own.

Your realtor has her finger on the pulse of the Jacksonville market and is especially aware of the real estate demographics that will affect the sale of your home. Here are some such facts that an agent will use to help you:

• What is the average price per square foot for real estate?
• What is the median sale price for local homes?
• How many new homes are on the market during the time you wish to sell your home?
• What is the percentage of distressed homes on the market?
• What is the average listing price for homes that are comparable to the one being sold?
• What is the average price of homes being sold in the same neighborhood as the house being sold?
• How many houses and for what price, have recently sold in the sellers neighborhood?

These questions will help the seller form a realistic asking price and in some cases will even convince the homeowner of the best time to sell. An agent’s working knowledge of the market provides enough information that will meet the seller’s goals.

Not going with a real estate agent can be a costly mistake. That said, there are some things you can do to help an agent do her work.

Eliminate Clutter

In other words, clean up the clutter, so there is no distraction to the buyer. A clean, pristine interior opens the imagination of the potential homebuyer. He can imagine how the home would appear with his furnishings in place. Rather than the “lived-in look,” think cosy and comfortable.

Do not show your home until the clutter is cleared away. Pick it up, throw it out or store it away from the house. At the very least, pack it neatly away in the garage. However, even a garage, should be attractive to the potential homebuyer. If your two car garage is stuffed to the gills, it will appear smaller than it is.

Patience

Losing patience while waiting for homes to sell is a mistake. Homes for sale in Northeast Florida, which includes the Jacksonville area, remained on the market on average for 120 days in late 2012. In the long-term, a few months is not that long of a wait. Jacksonville sellers should remember “patience is a virtue.”

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