Here are a few tips for hiring
the right listing agent to help sell your home.
First, do some basic research. You
want to know which companies specialize in your area, and
among those companies, which agents make it a point to
concentrate their efforts on selling homes in your part of
town. Those agents will be the most knowledgeable, because
your home falls within their "farm" or inventory area.
Visit company websites to see how user-friendly,
attractive, and informative they are. More and more people
turn to the Internet for their home searches every day, so
an effective website can be a powerful sales tool. Some
things to ask yourself as you view websites:
Do the listings include virtual tours of homes? This can
be a great sales tool, allowing potential buyers a chance
to get a feel for your home before spending time and gas
money on a property tour. At the very least, there should
be a number of good quality interior and exterior photos
of the homes they have listed.
Next, check your local area for free publications. You'll
find free real estate publications in supermarkets or gas
stations around town. Pick up as many as you see and look
at them. Which companies are prominently displayed, and
which ones have the most effective ads?
Ask your friends, relatives, and neighbors about agents
they have worked with. Which ones would they recommend and
why? Which ones did they have a negative experience with?
This can be a great tool, because the people you'll be
speaking with have had actual dealings with the agents and
companies, so they can give firsthand accounts of their
experiences, good or bad.
Once you have a few agencies and agents in mind, schedule
appointments to interview them. You can generally get a
free market analysis at the same time. This will give you
a chance to get a range of suggested selling prices, and
it can also help you weed out those agents who are too far
out of line one way or the other.
Ask each candidate to outline their proposed sales
strategy, including advertising and presentation on the
Internet. Make certain they're members of your local
Multiple Listing Service (MLS), because it remains one of
the most powerful sales tools available. It's important
that as many agents know about your home as possible.
Ask about commission schedules and listing periods. You
want to pay a fair price, but you don't want to tie your
home up with an ineffective agent or company for an undue
amount of time. Find out the average selling time for
homes in your area, and then ask about their particular
company's average time. The two figures should be similar.
Ask about open houses, lockboxes, and how showings will be
handled, as well.
- Don't list you home for a long
time period.
- Don't pay an extra "quick sale
fee."
- Don't pay extra for
advertising.
- Make sure your agent will show
the home and open it for other agents.
Be selective when choosing your
agent and company, and you will set yourself up for a fast
and enjoyable sale of your home.
Read about the tricks listing agents play
Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher
Coming soon (Join our
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information.)
Free ebook: Home Selling Guide
Five Questions to Ask a Listing Agent
Home Selling Guide - Listing Cautions - Beware of
Listing Agents who "Buy Listings."
Home Selling Guide: Work with What You Have
Selling a Home by Yourself
Home Selling Checklist
Marketing Psychology
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