John J Zenner III (Jay)

Where are all the female agents who could respond to this question? Just watched a few minutes of a movie with Charlie Sheen and the tall dark haired woman who was the improbably gorgeous asst. DA on Law and Order. Charlie is a failed stockbroker who becomes a hit when he takes over his girlfriend's advice column...a la Dear Abby...when girlfriend goes to South America for some cosmetic "work." I wonder if I could create a female persona and dispense staging advice with a flare...stuff that's true but maybe not credible from a guy whose "man cave" is a whole house? Hmm...

Staging is one of several things to consider when getting a house ready to go on the market and you are wise to start preparing this early. The last post on my blog, 4PsRE.com, is about ten ways to enhance the "product" in the marketing plan. Even though it was written for agents you'll be able to follow it and it might even help you evaluate the marketing plan from agents you solicit proposals from.

My second piece of advice would be to choose an agent from Durham and one who loves the town. SO many people still look down their noses at Durham in spite of the fact that it has more attractions and less pretensions than any place else in the Triangle. Your buyer will not just be buying your house, they'll be buying the community, so get somebody that is willing and knows how to market the community too.

Finally, as the other guys have shown, I don't know any agent who wouldn't be delighted to get to know you this far in advance. In fact, the agent/marketer you choose will be an important partner in putting your home on the market, so informal conversations with a few now are good preparation for when you actually have to choose one. - Sun Sep 27 2009, 19:10