Selling a home is one of the most important financial transactions in your life. But if you’re selling for the first time, or if it’s been a while, you may be wondering how to choose the best real estate agent to sell your home. This is the biggest asset that most people have and it’s going to be your biggest sale so it’s important you get the best representation.
According to Homelight data, the top five percent of real estate agents across the U.S. sell homes for as much as 10 percent more than the average real estate agent. Here are seven tips to help you choose the best agent:
1. GET REFERRALS FROM A TRUSTED SOURCE
A referral from someone you know, and trust, is a great place to start. However, that doesn’t mean using a family member or friend to sell your house. This never seems to end well, and I hear far too many horror stories where a family or friend was the agent and not only did the home not sell or sell for less, but they lost their friendship as well. This is a business relationship, and you need to keep it that way, not be worried about hurting someone’s feelings.
2. COMPARE AGENTS ONLINE
Pretty much all buyers start their search online, and so should sellers. Searching online can be a great way to find an agent to sell your house and be able to compare agents’ side by side. Here are some things to look for online.
- Online Presence: Did their information and website show up when you Googled their name? Do they have a strong internet presence?
- Website: Do they have a professional website?
- Reviews: Read reviews on multiple platforms such as Google and Zillow, etc. Some key words to look for from testimonials are communication, service, negotiation skills, responsiveness, etc
- Social Media: Do they have a good presence on social media sites such as Instagram and Facebook? Their online presence may also provide a further look into their personalities and show whether they’re using current technology and trends.
3. EXPERIENCE – LOCAL EXPERT
While a lot of agents (typically those who don’t live in your area) may tell you this doesn’t matter that much, I strongly disagree. The Northeast Valley and certainly in our neck of the woods is a unique place to live. If you are in a community like Las Sendas and Mountain Bridge, you are not just selling a home but a lifestyle. Your agent needs to know how to represent your home, your community, and this amazing location in the marketing material as well as in person.
4. GETTING YOUR HOME READY TO LIST
- How will the agent help you prepare your home for sale? • Do they suggest any upgrades/repairs that need to be done?
- Do they suggest any upgrades/repairs that need to be done?
- Do they suggest any upgrades/repairs that need to be done?
- Do they help stage your home prior to listing?
5. PRICING YOUR HOME
Most real estate agents will give you an opinion about what your home should be listed at during your first meeting.
Ensure that the listing price they chose is backed by data with a comparative market analysis (CMA). This is an analysis that compares your home to other similar homes that are active, pending, and sold in your area.
Don’t choose an agent with an inflated list price.
Just because an agent says they will sell your home for a higher price doesn’t mean they will. You want an agent who is honest and upfront, not an agent who just tells you what you want to hear and inflates the price to make you choose them. If you overprice your home, you will sit on the market for months and have to make price reductions until you get to the price it should have been originally listed at. Chances are though, now it’s been sitting on the market, a buyer will offer less, and you end up selling for less than you would have done if it had been priced right in the first place.
6. COMPARE MARKETING PLANS
While most real estate agents can sell a house, there’s a reason why some agents have a proven track record of selling homes faster and for more money.
- Ask what marketing tools will they use, such as professional photography, drone photos and videos, custom brochures, open houses, etc.
- Ask to see a detailed marketing plan.
7. INTERVIEW AT LEAST THREE AGENTS
Online research is incredibly useful, but the best way to choose a real estate agent is to speak to them directly. You can get a feel for important qualities like honesty and friendliness, as well as a sense of chemistry between your personalities and communication styles.
If you would like more information on how to choose an agent to sell your home and to set up a free no obligation consultation, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Lorraine is a Multi-Million Dollar producing agent, has been a full-time Realtor for over 14 years, is an Associate Broker of KOR Properties, a Certified Negotiation Specialist, and is on the Professional Standards Board. You can reach Lorraine at (602) 571-6799.