Hiring the right real estate listing agent can often mean a quicker sale for your home. The adage "time is money" was never more true than when you are selling your home. Before deciding which agents to interview, do your homework! The top agent in your city may not be the best choice for marketing your particular home. Your choice should depend on which agent is most successful in attracting buyers to homes similar to yours in price and amenities.
Some agents specialize in luxury or ocean-front homes, some in rural homes or farms, and some in a particular subdivision or price point. To optimize your selling success, choose an agent who is successful in selling homes similar to yours.
If your agent works as part of a team, it is probable that he or she works with a wide range of buyers and sellers and will have a member of the team who specializes in marketing homes just like yours.
Your Real Estate Listing Agent Must Have a Strong Web Presence
“Buyers look for homes on the internet. Period,” says Kathy Drewien in Straight Talk for Online Marketing Success. “Successful listing agents anticipate buyer questions and provide detailed credible answers across a broad internet base such as websites, blogs, real estate forums and online community networking. Strategic online marketing attracts a large global pool of buyers to the agent and their homes for sale.”
Examine the Web Presence of Local Real Estate Agents
Start your search for a listing agent by conducting an internet search. Enter your town, subdivision, and pertinent key words such as golf, beach, ski, farms, real estate and homes. Examine several agent web sites and blogs to see how they attract families moving to your area. Buyers moving to your town will do the same search and you want to choose an agent who attracts relocating buyers.
Be sure to look at how the agents use real estate blogs and agent social networking sites. Agents across the country network to refer buyers from one area to another. Social networking sites are sources of business for agents, connecting them with potential buyers and other agents. Sandra Nickel of Montgomery, AL, uses all these tools to drive business to her real estate team.
Choose an Agent with a Proven Track Record
The best time to start the process of choosing an agent is as soon as you sense a move might be in your future. Note how many homes are currently listed in your neighborhood. Ask the owners how the process is going for them. Talk to anyone who has recently moved into your neighborhood and ask how they chose their agent.
After you have gathered all your information, it will become obvious which agents you want to interview. Schedule an appointment to interview your top two or three choices.
Questions to Ask a Real Estate Agent before You List:
- How many homes have you listed and/or sold in my community that fall within my home’s price range?
- What is the average number of days on the market for your listings compared to all community listings
- Do you work with a team? Who will be my team contact? How does it all work together? Who should I call first with a comment or question? How often should I expect to hear from you or a team member?
- How often is your web site updated? Can you show me how often my home is looked at on your site and other sites you use? What are the statistics for you web site views?
- What professional real estate designations do you hold? Did these require special training or are they open to all who apply? How will these benefit me in the marketing of my home?
- How many advanced real estate courses do you attend each year? How many are out of town? How does that help you in the marketing of my home?
- What is your system for networking with top agents from around the country or around the world? How often are you in touch with them? How successful is this for you?
Even with the right agent, not all homes will sell in the time frame the owner wants. But by doing your research before the appointment and asking specific questions when you interview the agents, you will be able to determine the best choice for listing and marketing your home.
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Rosalie Thompson - Rosalie Thompson enjoys writing about NASCAR, real estate, gardening and travel in the Southeastern United States. After graduating from ...
