Things Sellers Should Check Before Choosing a Real Estate Company

It is natural for sellers to feel uncertain after receiving all the appraisal quotes.

The amounts differ from company to company.

The way they explain things also differs.

It is not easy to decide which company to entrust with the sale.

However, if you decide who to hire based solely on the appraisal amount at this stage,
you may encounter anxiety or discrepancies once the sale process begins.

What is important for a seller is
not simply choosing a company that provides a high appraisal quote.

Whether it is a real estate company you can trust,
and one that will support you even in making decisions during the sale.

I would like you to check this point.

[Is the premise of the appraisal amount explained?]

The first thing you want to check is not the height of the appraisal amount, but the premise behind that amount.

A high appraisal amount is not necessarily bad.

However, I do not recommend deciding who to hire without understanding why that amount was reached.
I do not recommend it.

Real estate companies appraise properties by looking at the location, size, age, recent sales in the neighborhood,
and current market conditions.

However, when using bulk appraisal sites, the appraisal amount may be provided first without fully understanding the seller's circumstances.

If the seller consults with a real estate company individually,
the likelihood of them building a proposal while listening to your circumstances increases.

But when going through an appraisal site, that may not always be the case.

✅ The reason for selling is unknown
✅ The time available for the sale is unknown
✅ Whether you want to proceed without neighbors knowing is unknown
✅ Whether there are special exemptions or deadlines to be aware of regarding inheritance or taxes is unknown
✅ Cannot be reached
✅ No reply even when questions are asked

In this state, the real estate company cannot provide a deep proposal tailored to the seller.

As a result,
it ends up being a price estimate based on property information and surrounding comparable sales.

This is not to say that only the seller is at fault.

This is because sellers often do not know what the real estate company wants to know either.

However, if you proceed without understanding this,
you will end up choosing who to hire based solely on the estimated price.

This is a point I want you to be careful about.

[Do you understand why there is a difference in estimated prices?]

When you request estimates from multiple real estate companies, there may be differences in the amounts.

That difference is not simply a matter of 'the company with the high price is good' or 'the company with the low price is bad'.

It may also be that each real estate company has a different approach.

Also, because they are providing an estimate without knowing the seller's circumstances,
the underlying assumptions may be misaligned.

For example,

✅ The time available for the sale
✅ Whether it is necessary to convert to cash by a deadline
✅ Whether you prefer a sales method that is not easily known to neighbors
✅ Whether you need to be aware of inheritance tax or special exemption deadlines
✅ Whether there is room to review the price
✅ Whether you will sell after tidying up the interior or sell it as is

If these premises differ, the estimated prices will also differ.

When looking at an estimated price, not just the amount, but

Why is it that amount? How do they intend to sell it at that price?

I want you to check up to this point.

As I mentioned in the previous article, 'Things easily overlooked before comparing estimated prices in a bulk appraisal,' the estimated price alone may not reveal the seller's circumstances.

In this article, as the next step,
I have organized what you should look at when choosing who to hire.

[Is the sales method suited to your own circumstances?]

What is important for the seller is not just the highness of the estimated price.

Is the sales method suited to your personal circumstances?

This is the point.

Everyone wants to sell for as high a price as possible.

The issue is,whether you choose to sell at a high price even if it takes time,
or whether you need to prioritize deadlines or specific circumstances.

This is the point.

For example, the approach differs between those who can afford to take time to sell,
and those who need to convert to cash by a certain date.

The way you sell also changes depending on whether you want to keep it quiet from neighbors,
or whether you want to advertise widely to generate interest.

In the case of an inherited house, it is important not only to consider the opinions of the heirs,
but also to understand the special tax exemptions and timing for the sale.

Even in the case of moving, it is not just about whether you are moving or not,
but when you need the proceeds from the salethat is important.

If you decide without considering this,

"Because it has the highest appraisal value"

If you choose who to hire based solely on that reason, discrepancies will arise once the sale begins.

If the sales method does not match the seller's circumstances,
it is easy for anxiety and dissatisfaction to arise along the way.

[Do you have criteria for making decisions if it doesn't sell?]

Even if you start sales activities, it does not mean it will sell immediately.

There are few inquiries.

No viewings are scheduled.

There are viewings, but they do not lead to offers.

You are proposed a price change.

These situations actually happen.

What you need at that time is not just being told, "Let's lower the price."

✅ What is the reason for the low response?
✅ Is it a price issue?
✅ Is it an issue with the photos or how it is presented?
✅ Are potential buyers hesitant due to the property's conditions?
✅ Are the conditions such that few people are considering a purchase?
✅ How much time has passed since sales began?

It is about making a decision after looking at these factors.

When it doesn't sell, what do you look at and how do you decide?

If you don't confirm this before hiring them, it will be difficult to make decisions during the sale.

I believe you should be cautious of proposals that only offer a high appraisal price without explaining this.

The start of sales is not the goal of selling.

Decisions made after sales begin have a major impact on the seller's satisfaction.

[Will you be pressured to make decisions without knowing the situation?]

What troubles sellers during a sale is being asked to make decisions without understanding the situation.

Price changes.

Responses to purchase offers.

Contract terms.

Handover timing.

Handling of equipment and belongings.

These are all important decisions for the seller.

And yet,

"There is little response, so let's lower it."

"Let's proceed with these terms."

With just these, the seller cannot make a decision with conviction.

Why do you think that way?

Are there no other options?

What will happen if you don't decide now?

If you give an answer without understanding this, you may have regrets after the sale.

Regret is not born from the results alone.
It can arise from making a decision without being convinced.

Before hiring them, it is better to confirm how they report and how they present the information for your decision.

[Do they tell you not only the good news but also the points of caution?]

For a seller, good news is easy to hear.

"It looks like it will sell for a high price."

"A buyer might be found soon."

"It should be fine with these conditions."

Having positive news itself is not a bad thing.

However, proceeding based only on good news is dangerous.

Real estate sales have points of caution specific to each property.

If the price is set high, there is a possibility that there will be little response.

If the building is old, there are buyers who will be concerned about the condition of the building.

If it is land, issues regarding boundaries or surveying may arise.

If it is an inherited house, it may be necessary to confirm taxes, special exceptions, and the timing of the sale.

Do they tell you not only the good news but also the things that are hard for the seller to hear?

Please look at this point.

A representative who is merely kind is not necessarily the best choice.

It is also important whether the representative will tell you the reality when necessary.

[Checking the representative as much as possible before hiring them]

Some of a representative's true capabilities only become apparent after the sale begins.

Therefore, it is difficult to judge everything before hiring them.

However, there are things you can see even before hiring them.

✅ Are their answers to your questions specific?
✅ Can they explain the reasoning behind the appraisal price?
✅ Do they talk about potential issues, not just the good news?
✅ Do they avoid leaving things they don't know unanswered?
✅ Are they trying to think in accordance with the seller's circumstances?
✅ Are they easy to talk to and easy to ask questions of?

Knowledge and experience are important.

However, it is not just that; it is also important whether the seller feels comfortable consulting with them.

During the sales process, you will have questions and anxieties.

If you have a representative who is difficult to consult with at those times,
the seller will end up making decisions while carrying that anxiety.

You cannot see through everything perfectly before hiring them.

Even so,
the specificity of their explanations, how they communicate potential issues, and how easy they are to consult withare things you should look at.

[Summary]

When choosing a real estate company, the appraisal price is important.

However, the appraisal price alone does not determine whether you can hire them with peace of mind.

Here are the points I would like you to check:

✅ Is the premise of the appraisal price explained?
✅ Is the sales method suited to the seller's circumstances?
✅ Are there criteria for making decisions if the property does not sell?
✅ Do they provide reports that keep you informed of the situation?
✅ Do they communicate potential issues, not just the good news?
✅ Are they a knowledgeable and experienced representative who is easy to consult with?

What is important for the seller is
not just choosing a company that gives you a high appraisal price.

It is whether they are a real estate company that you can hire with peace of mind and that will support you even with decisions during the sales process.

It is here.

Selling real estate is a collaborative effort between the seller and the real estate company.

Choosing a partner you can trust and make informed decisions with, rather than proceeding without understanding, will help minimize regrets.

[Regarding Consultations]

There is no need to rush to a conclusion when selling real estate.

Even if you have not yet decided whether to sell, organizing your situation can help clarify things.

At Green Estate Co., Ltd., we accept consultations regarding real estate sales, inherited homes, vacant houses, and relocation, primarily in the southern part of Yokohama City and Yokosuka City.

For those outside our service area, we also offer online consultations regarding how to proceed with real estate sales and how to approach the process.

You can also consult us about anxieties regarding properties currently listed with other companies, uncertainty about appraisal values or price changes, organizing your situation before selling, seeking a second opinion, or receiving ongoing support throughout the sales process as needed.

We start by helping you organize your current situation.

Click here for a reference page for those who have started thinking about selling.

Click here if you would like to organize your situation or request a free consultation.

Click here if you would like to consult via LINE.