Selecting the Right Realtor
The selection of an agent will be one of the most important decisions you'll make when selling your home. According to a survey by the National Association of Realtors, almost 20% of sellers choose a real estate agent who is a friend or relative. On one hand this makes sense. Selling a home is one of the largest transactions you’ll make in your life, and it is reasonable to want someone you know and trust to help you through the process.
But before you do hire someone you know well, there are a few things to consider.
- You'll want to hire a Realtor who is committed to making real estate their full-time profession. Make sure that whoever is working for you makes selling your home at the right price their top priority. Sometimes, it’s easy to place friends and loved ones behind strangers in professional situations, because you know they’ll understand if you need to postpone or if you make a mistake. But with the sale of your home, you never want your agent to put you or your property on the backburner.
- To effectively sell your home, you'll want to have a professional relationship with the agent you choose, because your Realtor works for you. If you won’t feel comfortable asking about the progress of your home sale because you’re afraid of being too pushy with your friend or family member, then you probably should not choose someone you know.
- Finally, having an agent that isn’t a friend or relative can sometimes give you a more objective perspective of the process. You will find it beneficial to hire an agent who will tell you what you need to hear (not what you want to hear) without the fear of injuring a personal relationship. For example, your friend might not want to hurt your feelings when you price your home too high, meaning you could miss out on weeks of potential buyers before you drop the price to the appropriate level.
You'll want to find an agent who knows your neighborhood, who has knowledge of schools, shopping, streets, transportation and other local amenities. Also, an agent with buyer connections will usually yield a better selling price, as they will be able to generate more demand for the property. An effective real estate agent should also have a proven marketing plan. Selling a home requires more than simply putting your home on the Multiple Listing Service and putting up a for sale sign. According to research by the National Association of Realtors, 3 out of 4 buyers begin their search for a new home by checking available properties listed on the Internet. It's also important to look for a Realtor who is a broker and not just an agent. In today's world the term agent and broker are used interchangeably. However, in reality they are very different. Most buyers and sellers are usually not familiar with the different levels of training and professional designations within the real estate industry. After all, real estate professionals are all the same, right??!! WRONG!! While a salesperson (agent) license requires taking only one course, the broker's license requires several additional courses and passage of a more comprehensive licensing exam. A broker may also operate his own real estate practice.
If you’re confused, you’re not alone. Choosing the right agent can be difficult. Below are some questions that we think will make the process easier:
Suggested Questions for Listing Agents.
- How long have you been selling real estate?
- How many homes did you sell last year?
- What educational designations have you achieved?
- How many contracts have you successfully negotiated this year?
- What percentage of your listings sold last year, compared to the MLS?
- What was the average time on the market, compared to the MLS?
- What was the percentage difference between asking price and selling price?
- Do you have a full-time, licensed assistant?
- Do you zone-farm my neighborhood for buyers?
- Would you mail brochures of my home to other agents?
- Do you provide a written report to sellers?
- May I see your resume?
- Why should I hire you?
- Do you have a list of references I may check?
- Do you have a website?
- Do you have a proven marketing plan?
Let us be your first interview! We’ll be happy to answer all of these questions and more about our agents. We know the real estate business inside and out, and we’ve been able to help hundreds of clients find the perfect Realtor on our team. Since entering the real estate profession over two decades ago, we have been a consistent top-producing team, ranking in the top one percent of Realtors nationwide. In addition, we pride ourselves in staying abreast of the latest in technological advancements, making sure we give our sellers maximum exposure.
We have always believed that balance is essential to everything. Expertise must be blended with personal service in order to achieve the greatest results. We’re devoted to customer service. And best of all, we offer a SATISFACTION GUARANTEE!
