For real estate businesses of all sizes, a major challenge is getting clients to believe that the agent has their best interests at heart. When buying or selling anything, it is normal for people to question everything the other party does, says Oklahoma Red Door Management.
Property sales, like all business relationships, are motivated by profits. Sellers want to get as much money for their home as possible. Estate agents, on the other hand, are there to earn a commission.
Neither the seller nor the agent will make any money unless the buyer closes the deal. So, it is in the best interest of the agent to convince the buyer. Most estate agents will try to do this, whether the buyer is getting a good deal.
But smart estate agents know better. They know that in the real estate business, an estate agent’s reputation is everything. That is because property markets are local by nature, and most of an agent’s clients will come to them through word of mouth.
Any estate agent who knows how to meet and exceed customers’ expectations will have a team of unpaid but highly motivated customers advertising their business. What can you do to get buyers to invest this kind of trust in you?
The answer is simple: you must help buyers reduce their risk while assisting sellers to sell their home faster and make more money at the same time. One of the best ways to get this result is by doing a sewer camera inspection before listing a home.
Why a sewer camera inspection is critical when selling a home
Buying a home comes with a lot of anxiety for most people, due to how much uncertainty is involved and the amount of money at stake. This uncertainty comes from two sources: buyers’ ignorance and sellers’ dishonesty.
Most buyers lack the skills to properly assess a house for hidden problems, and sellers, even if they know the problems in their home, are unlikely to reveal them. The combination of these factors means that buyers approach the sale with a lot of suspicion.
One part of the house where buyers have a lot of concern is the sewer system. Because sewer lines are underground, buyers have no way of knowing their physical condition. Also, fixing a home’s sewer line issues may cost tens of thousands of dollars.
As a savvy estate agent, you can take this burden away from buyers by doing a sewer camera inspection before listing the home. Buyers will be more likely to buy the property if the potential risk of the purchase is very low.
What are the benefits of this strategy?
Benefits of sewer camera inspection when selling a home
- Build trust through transparency
A sewer camera inspection tells the buyer that there are no hidden risks in the drainage system. Buyers are more likely to overlook the less desirable features of a home if they are reasonably sure of the condition of its major systems and critical structures.
- Informed decision-making
When the problems in a home are not known, buyers are left to imagine the worst. But with a sewer camera inspection, hidden problems are brought to light. By eliminating guesswork, you give buyers an objective basis for making their decisions.
- A great tool for negotiations
If you know the existing problems in the sewer line, you can fix them or deduct the cost of fixing them from the home’s sales price. This is better than letting buyers find the problem through their own inspection. The buyer will price you down if this happens.
- Speedy closure
Closing a property sale takes time; most of that time is spent verifying facts. Buyers will delay closing a deal if they doubt the integrity of the other parties. Doing a sewer camera can help the sale close faster by addressing the buyer’s fears.
- Enhance your professional image
Every home buyer wants to deal with an estate agent who is honest and pays attention to details. It is small steps like doing a sewer camera inspection before listing a property that help to frame how clients perceive your business.
How should you implement this strategy?
Firstly, you want to partner with a reliable inspection company. The accuracy of a sewer camera inspection depends on the quality of the equipment and the technician’s ability to properly interpret the results. You should only work with trusted inspectors.
Communicate the benefits to your clients. When selling their home, owners go to great lengths to avoid expenses they view as unnecessary. They must see how taking this step will help them sell their home faster and for more money.
Make sure the inspection report is readily available. You want potential buyers and their agents to be able to access the report. You also want the language of the report to be clear, detailed, and accompanied with video footage.
Are you about to list your home for sale, and think you could benefit from a sewer camera inspection in the Chicagoland area? Give us a call today!