SELLERS GUIDE #2 - APPOINTING AN AGENT
Not all
agents work the same way. Not all have the same approach to real estate.
Extremely important is to check the agent’s credibility and integrity.
You should ask the following questions ;
1) Are they full time professionals or will they market my home part time
2) Can they provide references that are fairly recent
3) Are they concerned about your needs as a seller or only in making commission
4) Are they local and therefore familiar with local market conditions and pricing
5) Are they attached to a reputable agency that is registered with the Estate Agents Board
6) Do they have some record of accomplishment in the field
7) Does their office or company have a record of accomplishment – good teams are important
8) Do they have their own dedicated website for marketing
9) Do they use other electronic media forums such as Facebook, Flickr etc for marketing
10) Do they freely share their professional expertise by means of a newsletter, Blog page etc
11) Have they established a good network – are they well connected in the real estate industry
12) Are they prepared to listen to you and give proper and professional advice
13) Are they themselves registered with the EAAB and with the local Institute of Estate Agents.
14) And of course, what qualifications do they have – particularly in Real Estate
Appointing the right agent is crucial to the process of selling your home. Or even not selling. In the current economic climate, we have had many people approaching us to sell their homes due to financial problems. While for some, it was the right decision, others we rather referred to Debt Counselling services. Although this meant not getting a mandate and therefore commissions it was the right advise for the intended seller.
It is this provision of proper advice and professional service that can make all the difference to a major decision in your life.
Also consider the following ;
Finally, remember your real estate agent is an authority you hire to help you make the right decisions, but you have the final word. Your residence is likely to be the biggest single investment you'll ever make. Buy and sell wisely.
You should ask the following questions ;
1) Are they full time professionals or will they market my home part time
2) Can they provide references that are fairly recent
3) Are they concerned about your needs as a seller or only in making commission
4) Are they local and therefore familiar with local market conditions and pricing
5) Are they attached to a reputable agency that is registered with the Estate Agents Board
6) Do they have some record of accomplishment in the field
7) Does their office or company have a record of accomplishment – good teams are important
8) Do they have their own dedicated website for marketing
9) Do they use other electronic media forums such as Facebook, Flickr etc for marketing
10) Do they freely share their professional expertise by means of a newsletter, Blog page etc
11) Have they established a good network – are they well connected in the real estate industry
12) Are they prepared to listen to you and give proper and professional advice
13) Are they themselves registered with the EAAB and with the local Institute of Estate Agents.
14) And of course, what qualifications do they have – particularly in Real Estate
Appointing the right agent is crucial to the process of selling your home. Or even not selling. In the current economic climate, we have had many people approaching us to sell their homes due to financial problems. While for some, it was the right decision, others we rather referred to Debt Counselling services. Although this meant not getting a mandate and therefore commissions it was the right advise for the intended seller.
It is this provision of proper advice and professional service that can make all the difference to a major decision in your life.
Also consider the following ;
- Moving out of town or even overseas? Then using an agent from Property Network ensures you have access to an international network that can take care of your needs from both ends with global accountability.
- If selling, ask the real estate agent how he or she would establish a listing price. Request a Comparative Market Analysis, also called a CMA, which shows the market value of similar homes in the area that are for sale or have recently sold. Many do not have access to this information or just thumbsuck
- Ask the agent how he or she would market your property. Understand that some agents may prefer to first tour your home and then put together a customized marketing plan to present at a later meeting. But if he or she can't suggest a strategy when asked, you might consider interviewing other candidates.
- Ask the agent how often you should expect to hear from him or her. Know how and when you will communicate to avoid unrealistic expectations.
- Pay attention to the agent's listening skills. Does he or she cut you off before you've finished a sentence? There's nothing worse than looking at houses you have no interest in because the real estate agent has not listened carefully to your needs, or having your home on the market too long because it's priced incorrectly and the wrong buyers are being targeted.
- Ask the agent what his or her fee structure is. Does he or she require a percentage of the sales price or work for a flat fee? Will the agent be paid another way?
Finally, remember your real estate agent is an authority you hire to help you make the right decisions, but you have the final word. Your residence is likely to be the biggest single investment you'll ever make. Buy and sell wisely.
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For Legal issues go here, and remember to visit my Blog for regular articles and tips.
For Legal issues go here, and remember to visit my Blog for regular articles and tips.
THIS IS WORTH SHARING!