Selling a home is no easy task. You must have the right agent on your side. A seller’s agent is a real estate professional who works exclusively with people selling their homes, so these agents have insight and expertise on what home sellers experience while selling their houses. Here are some tips for finding the best seller’s agent to work with.
What a Seller’s Agent Will Do for You
You wouldn’t be doing yourself any favors by trying to cut out the middleman and list your house for sale by owner. A seller’s agent, in most cases, is well worth the commission they charge. They can help you earn a higher sales price, negotiate offers, and protect your interests legally regarding contracts. Your agent will market your home to the right buyers, arrange for showings, and walk you through the closing process, which can be complicated with appraisals, inspections, and other required processes.
Most seller’s agents charge around an estimated 6$ commission for selling the home but can make that unquestionably worth the investment.
Ask Around
Word of mouth is still the best form of advertising. When you ask people about their experiences, they love telling the truth – either to help you find success or to caution you about a bad experience. Ask your friends, family members, co-workers, and associates who they know might be a good fit for your real estate needs.
Drive the Neighborhood
There are many ways to advertise a house for sale, but one way that has stood the test of time is the good old yard sign. Drive around your community and take note of agent names on the yard signs in the area. Put a star beside any agent whose name you see on more than one sign, as that’s a good indicator of the agent’s experience in your community.
Check Social Media
Social media is an incredible resource for looking for professional services, including real estate agents. In one way, they act as a local directory providing a list of agents in your area. Next, you can read ratings and reviews other social media users have left for the agents. Third, you can directly ask your social media contacts for recommendations and links to the profiles of recommended agents.
Visit Agent Websites
When looking for real estate agents, whether you come across their names via recommendations, yard signs, or social media, take the time to visit their real estate websites. How an agent represents themselves online could be a valuable indicator of how they conduct their business. Does their website look professional? Does it have a photo of the agent that you can resonate with? Does the website have valuable content to help you learn about the home-selling process? Is there an about us page where you can learn more about the agent’s education and experience? How about a testimonials page?
What to Look for in a Good Seller’s Agent
There are a few key indicators you want to look for when considering which real estate agent to hire. First, you want to choose an absolute expert in your neighborhood – they should have extensive knowledge about area schools, public transportation, nearby restaurants, recreation, entertainment, and amenities.
Next, seek out an agent who has worked with your type of property. For example, yours may be a single-family home, a condominium, a duplex, a home in a golf course community, a waterfront property, etc. – each of these housing types is unique and requires an agent who understands how to work with and market these nuances.
Third, find an agent who works primarily in your price point. If you’re selling a specialty home in an exclusive area, you’re going to want an agent who understands the real estate etiquette of your area. On that same token, you wouldn’t want a luxury real estate agent trying to sell your $200,000 house.
The agent you choose should have a personality you enjoy and find easy to work with. They should make you feel comfortable asking questions and confident in the answers they provide. You’ll be spending a fair amount of time working with your agent. Make sure it’s a relationship you can be secure with.
You’ll also want to notice how your agent dresses and how they conduct themselves with you. Do they appear professional, or do they come across as overly casual?
Questions to Ask a Seller’s Agent in an Interview
There are several pertinent questions you may want to ask multiple agents before choosing one to hire. Interview three or more agents, if possible, and consider the following questions:
- How long have you been a real estate agent?
- How long have you worked in this area?
- Do you work alone or as part of a team?
- How many homes have you sold in the last six months?
- What was the average sales price of the last six homes you sold?
- How long, on average, were your listings on the market before selling?
- What is your commission?
- What is your marketing strategy?
- Will there be an open house? If so, what should I expect? If not, why?
- What is the process of showing my home to potential buyers?
- What is your preferred method of communication?
- How often should I expect you to communicate with me?
- What advice would you offer for preparing my house for sale?
- What price do you suggest for listing my home?
- What is the exit strategy if I’m unhappy with your services?
Conclusion
Selling a house is hard. It’s a challenging process – and one that’s made easier and more rewarding with the right seller’s agent in your corner. Ask friends and family for referrals. Check online for ratings and reviews. Drive around your neighborhood looking for sellers already working in your community. Visit agent websites to gauge their content and professionalism, and then take the time to interview no less than three agents to get a feel of which agent is the best match for you.
