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Important Consideration When Hiring A Real
Estate Agent
Here are some of the important tips to
follow when searching for the right real estate agent to sell your home.
Get to know the Real Estate agent you are
considering for the job.
While you may expect to find some big differences between brokerages, keep
in mind that real estate agents are independent businesspeople. As such,
you often find two agents from the same brokerage do things a bit
differently. It’s worth spending the time to get to know the professionals
whom you’re asking to handle the sale of one of your largest assets. Ask
whether the person you’re considering is a full-time agent, who will be
your main point of communication, and ask for references from past
clients. This may be the largest transaction of your life so make it a
business decision. It is best to hire good representation from day one.
Get to know the Brokerage Firm.
Although the brokerage you go with isn’t as important as the real estate
agent with whom you choose to work, there are certain factors that may
influence your decision. Here are a few questions to consider: How long
have they been in business? What are their hours of operation? (They
should be open seven days a week for your potential buyer.) Are they local
and reputable? What is their market share of like-kind homes to yours?
Understand the Marketing Plan
Creating the marketing plan is one of the most important things your
listing agent will do for you. It should identify who’s the most likely
buyer for your home, how your buyer usually shops and how your buyer will
be targeted. Depending on the kind of home you have and where it’s
located, you may want ads in the paper, print ads in real estate
magazines, open houses, mailings, Internet advertising or a combination of
these marketing efforts. Your listing agent should make information about
your house available seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day. By the
way: get the marketing plan in writing.
Establish how you will get updates on the market and
feedback from showings.
One of the biggest complaints consumers have is that they don’t hear from
their real estate agents often enough. Ask your agent how you’ll be
informed about the market in general and how many times your home was
viewed in the online marketing services and feedback from buyers’ real
estate agents.
Stay in the driver's seat.
A good real estate agent knows the local real estate market and stays on
top of the most recent technology to market your home effectively. A great
agent knows how to show you information about the local market and the
most recent trends in marketing so you’re in a position to make informed
decisions about your home. If your real estate agent makes recommendations
and you’d like more information, just ask. For example, “I understand your
recommendation. On what information are you basing that recommendation?”
Never be afraid to ask why something is or is not being done to sell your
home. You are the client, and you are in charge.
Be Leery.
Be cautious of Realtors who tell you everything you want to hear. I would
rather be told the truth versus what I wanted to hear only to find out the
truth later. Some Realtors are total “yes” people and lead you believe
what you want to believe just to get your listing.
Keep these tips in mind and they will help you make a wise choice in
hiring a Realtor. Selling a home is not rocket science but you can waste a
lot of time hiring the wrong agent. The way home prices have been falling
listing with the wrong agent can cost you a large amount of money.
Ask about commission and make all considerations of factors before
making your decision.
Many consumers who are shopping for an agent make the mistake of comparing
them solely on the basis of what they charge for commission. For example,
if Rick Realtor charges 8% and Sally Seller charges 3%, you may decide
Sally is a much better option. But what if Rick pays the buyer’s agent 4%,
and Sally pays the buyer’s agent just 1%? What if Sally is a part-time
agent and her office is only open on Wednesdays and Thursdays from noon
until 3:00? Is it still a “good deal”? Make sure you understand how long
the listing agent wants to have you under contract, how much he or she
will pay the buyer’s agent, and what will be done for you from the time
the home is listed until the home clears escrow.
As a Florida Luxury Realty associate, I am always available to help you
regarding suggestions that will help sell faster and for the best
financial outcome.
If your ready to have a real estate professional help you with the selling
process, contact me today.
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