When you want to sell your home, and have decided to enlist a real estate professional to help you, there are a few things you should know about your agent before signing the binding agreement.Experience is one factor but there is more to selling a home than finding an agent with years on the job.
The listing agent, (the sellers agent) is the one placing your property information on the MLS which is the nation wide database where all listings listed with a licensed Realtor will be shown. Some listing agents will do that, and nothing more, waiting for an agent to call with a prospective buyer.
Knowing how may homes the agent has sold in the past year, how many of those transactions were as a sellers agent? How many of those homes sold for the asking price? In other words, will your agent work to get your asking price or will they quickly advice you to reduce your price for a quick sale? (And a quick commission?)
Some agents have a challenge negotiating with the buyers agent. Some do not have the skill, or the confidence to act on your behalf and get the best price for you. In a transaction involving a substantial amount of money you will want someone skilled and knowledgeable about bargaining and negotiating.
What will the agent do for you besides placing the listing on the MLS? Where else will there be ads? Will there be open houses where people can come and see the property?
Is your potential agent available seven days a week? Amazingly, some agents do not work, nor return calls on the weekends. Weekends tend to be the busiest time in real estate... What will be the average response time? This can be crucial not only when a new potential buyer makes contact, but also during negotiations when time is of the essence due to contract expiration's.
What is the personality of this potential agent? Is she optimistic, upbeat, solution oriented? Or is she pessimistic about your property, about the market in general, unmotivated to have open houses or to otherwise show initiative?
Don't rush selecting your agent. You will be working with this person for many months, and canceling a contract may be difficult and or, costly. Take the time to know you have chosen a competent, positive agent that you will like working with. - 29957
The listing agent, (the sellers agent) is the one placing your property information on the MLS which is the nation wide database where all listings listed with a licensed Realtor will be shown. Some listing agents will do that, and nothing more, waiting for an agent to call with a prospective buyer.
Knowing how may homes the agent has sold in the past year, how many of those transactions were as a sellers agent? How many of those homes sold for the asking price? In other words, will your agent work to get your asking price or will they quickly advice you to reduce your price for a quick sale? (And a quick commission?)
Some agents have a challenge negotiating with the buyers agent. Some do not have the skill, or the confidence to act on your behalf and get the best price for you. In a transaction involving a substantial amount of money you will want someone skilled and knowledgeable about bargaining and negotiating.
What will the agent do for you besides placing the listing on the MLS? Where else will there be ads? Will there be open houses where people can come and see the property?
Is your potential agent available seven days a week? Amazingly, some agents do not work, nor return calls on the weekends. Weekends tend to be the busiest time in real estate... What will be the average response time? This can be crucial not only when a new potential buyer makes contact, but also during negotiations when time is of the essence due to contract expiration's.
What is the personality of this potential agent? Is she optimistic, upbeat, solution oriented? Or is she pessimistic about your property, about the market in general, unmotivated to have open houses or to otherwise show initiative?
Don't rush selecting your agent. You will be working with this person for many months, and canceling a contract may be difficult and or, costly. Take the time to know you have chosen a competent, positive agent that you will like working with. - 29957
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