One of the first and most important actions when selling a home is to find a high-quality real estate agent.
Choosing an agent can be a confronting challenge so it’s worth looking at some figures from proptech Active Pipe.
Research revealed sellers made their choice based on: personality of the agent (24.2%); reputation, conveyed by word of mouth (22.6%) and past results (21%).
These tips will help you start a search for an agent to help you through the sales process.
Family and friends
You can’t beat a good recommendation, so seek out who has done an excellent job for those you love and trust. That doesn’t mean they’re the agent for you, but it’s a good entry into the selection process.
Pricing approach
Research local market prices before interviewing for an agent. With this knowledge, you should be able to judge their ability to price your home appropriately. Don’t fall for the old agent trick of quoting a high price to win your business. You want your agent in the real world.
Experience counts
You also want someone who has successfully sold your style of property, in your neighborhood and in the prevailing market conditions. They should have a track record of selling to your target buyer segment (such as families, couples or singles.) Selling off-the-plan apartments doesn’t mean they’ll hit a home run for you.
Local knowledge
During your interviews, test each agent’s understanding of the neighborhood market, including price trends, time-on-market and available properties that might compete with yours.
Results
Seek out the recent results achieved by each candidate. Don’t go further back than 12 months, but pay close attention to the past three months.
ID parade
Ask each candidate to walk through your home and identify the key selling points and unique features that would attract target buyers.
Quality combination
Strong negotiation skills, high service ethic and thorough neighborhood knowledge will serve you well.