Choosing a real estate agent is one of the most confronting challenges an owner must address when preparing to put their property on the market.
Research from property technology company ActivePipe shows that 24.2% of sellers make their choice based on the personality of an agent. Reputation, conveyed by word of mouth, influences the decision for 22.5% of sellers while 21% are guided by an agent’s past results.
At our agency, we’d be delighted to talk with you about selling your home and what we can achieve for you in the current market conditions. But, of course, cast your net wider with these tips, and we hope to hear from you soon:
Ask family and friends
You can’t beat a good recommendation, so seek out information from those you love and trust. Just remember that even if an agent has done an excellent job for your friend or family member, it doesn’t guarantee that they’re the agent for you. However, this is a good entry into the selection process.
Experience counts
Look for someone who has proven success in selling your style of property, in your area, and in the prevailing market conditions or those that are similar. If, for example, you have an acreage property to sell, choosing an agent who specialises in selling two-bedroom inner-city apartments may not be the best match for you.
Results
Seek out the recent results achieved by each candidate. There’s no need to go further back than 12 months. Again, focus on their success with your style of property, as well as your target buyer segment, such as families, couples or singles. Just because they’ve done well selling off-the-plan apartments doesn’t mean they’ll kick a goal for you.
Check them out
Go to inspections that are held by each agent and gauge their professionalism. Leave your name and contact details, and see who follows up and how they treat you. Test their market knowledge on price, time-on-market and available properties.
If my agency can help you secure your dream home or sell your existing property, please do not hesitate to contact me.
We can discuss buyer preferences, value-add upgrades, prices trends in our area, and the best marketing campaign to maximise the current value of your property.