Too many sellers think that simply hiring a good realtor will do the trick. Just pay him/her their commission and the house will get sold lickety-split while you go about your daily routines. That’s like a business owner who thinks hiring a marketing company will get their product sold. It doesn’t work that way. As the homeowner, you play a critical role in determining how fast your home gets sold. The real estate agent you’ve hired can only work with what you give him/her. That means you’ve got to be an active participant in your home’s marketing efforts if you want it to sell quickly. 

Here are four easy things you can do as a seller to attract more buyers and get that sign changed in your front yard:

1. Hold your agent accountable
The typical commission rate for a home sale is around six percent. That means that on a sale of a $200,000 home, $12,000 is going to go to the real estate agents. That’s a significant chunk of change! If your home was a business asset, would you dole out that kind of money for someone to market it without keeping tabs on what they were doing?

Before you sign with a real estate agent, find out what their marketing plans are for your home. Take a look at some of their other listings. Do the photos look professional? Look at their own website. Do they have one? Does it reflect an agent who gets things done in a professional manner? Just because your wife’s cousin’s friend is a real estate agent isn’t a reason to hire him. Selling your home will be one of the most significant business transactions you’ll ever make. Hire someone who knows what they’re doing and do your part by holding them accountable for getting the job done.

2. Do some marketing of your own
If you’ve hired a good agent, he/she will have a pretty good network set up to market your home. That doesn’t mean you can’t use your own network, though. Are you on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram? Let your contacts there know your home is on the market and encourage them to spread the word.

You can take some pictures of your own to complement what your realtor is doing and share these on social media. Better yet, if you’ve got a phone with video capabilities, set up a self-guided tour of your home and neighborhood. Take potential buyers on a personalized trip that highlights all the great features of your home. And don’t forget to get outside your house either. 

Take a walk through the neighborhood and show off the trees, the walking paths, community pool, or other amenities your neighborhood has to offer. And don’t forget your potential buyer might even be someone who doesn’t even live in your town. Post another video that highlights some of the community hotspots within easy driving distance. Are there nice parks for kids to play in? Bike paths or other outdoor recreation facilities? Is there a town square or other community gathering place? These are all things that attract buyers that won’t show up on Zillow or other marketing outlets your realtor is using to market your house.