Selecting a Real Estate Agent That is Right for You

So you’ve decided to move on to greener pastures and sell your home. Before you pack your bags, you’ll need to find yourself a real estate agent to deal with the listing. These days, there are a plenty of agents to choose from, making it difficult to determine which one is best suited for the job. You’ll need to find someone who is honest, friendly, hard working and experienced in order to obtain the most for your property. In this article, we will offer up a few tips to help you find your ideal real estate agent.

Step 1 – Chances are high that you know of someone in the real estate business. Avoid using this individual just because it’s convenient. If you are truly invested in the idea of selling your home, you will need to make certain you select the best agent available. Hiring someone simply based on the fact that you know them will get you nowhere.

Step 2 – Look around for local area listings. Navigate over to Google and search for MLS listings in your city. In most cases, you will be able to browse through a variety of listings. During your search, pay attention to the agents with similar listings to yours. Which properties catch your eye and who has them listed? If you feel that the agents behind the listings are doing a quality job, then you may want to add them to your short list of candidates.

Step 3 – Get in touch with local friends and family members who have used an agent in the past. Ask questions regarding their experience to gain a better idea of what to expect. Word of mouth is a fantastic way to find quality services, and this instance is far from exception.

Step 4 – Narrow down your list to 2 or 3 options and start calling them up. Schedule meetings with each candidate and come prepared with a list of questions and discussion topics. Ask for a listing presentation and a market analysis of your current property.

Step 5 – During your meetings, pay attention to the types of marketing strategies the agents have in mind for your property. Anyone can place an ad in a magazine, so it’s important to know that you’re getting your money’s worth. Ask for information regarding past sales. You’ll want to acquire the help of someone who is getting as close to one hundred percent of the asking price on their listings as possible. Not only will this mean that the realtor is helping owners sell their homes for the right price, but that they are negotiating quality deal on their client’s behalf.

Step 6 – Inquire as to how much experience each realtor has. Though you probably don’t want to go with someone newer, you will want to avoid someone with 50 other listings to tend to.

Step 7 – Gather up all of your information and make a decision. Your agent should make you feel comfortable and confident in their abilities, while providing you with a reasonable rate for service.