The Tribune

By MIKE LIGHTBOURN

DURING the past 12 months, how many homes have you personally sold? Ten, 15, 20? How did you attract the buyers? Which marketing techniques were most effective? What factors have occurred to affect the selling price?

Each day, the Bahamian real estate market changes. Buyers become more sophisticated and web-literate. New homes become available and others sell.

Unless you are involved in Bahamian real estate on a daily basis, you're likely to find that yesterday's facts are today's fantasies. So if you plan to sell your home successfully at the best possible price, you're going to need assistance to overcome the complexities of selling.

Make your choice of a BREA representative carefully.

Areas of expertise to be considered include

1) financing know-how and creativity,

2) experience marketing homes like yours,

3) Internet literacy,

4) pricing expertise, and

5) negotiating talent. Real estate transactions require a mix of facts and figures know-how combined with superior people and strong communications skills.

When selling your home, don't underestimate the importance of obtaining strong representation by an experienced BREA real estate agent. Remember, you will be competing against other homes for the attention of qualified buyers. Your agent-advocate should be positioned to produce just the right buyer. Listen to his/her advice.

Remember; price it properly in the beginning and it should sell within a reasonable time frame.

Mike Lightbourn is

president of Coldwell Banker Lightbourn Realty