The majority of home sellers take on the task with an ally: a Real Estate Agent. They feel that it is better to entrust the sale of their biggest investment to a professional, rather than attempting to learn about selling a house in a trial and error method. In addition, many people would rather use an Agent due to the complexities of modern Real Estate transactions since they usually incorporate legal and financial attributes, which takes them well beyond more simple transactions, such as the sale of an automobile.
Some of the other advantages of working with Agents that home sellers will list include: access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) so that large numbers of buyers will have access to the seller’s property, the fact that the Agent absorbs all of the cost of advertising and marketing, and the screening that will be done of potential buyers by Agents. In addition, the Agent handles the lion’s share of the details of the negotiation.
So how do you choose an Agent who will be effective? What is important to know about an Agent to determine whether you feel they will do a good job? The following questions should be asked of any prospective Real Estate Agent in order to assess their capabilities and philosophies.
What to Look for in an Agent:
A sense of professionalism.
A full-time Agent who is committed to the profession (and who will be committed to getting your house sold!)
Familiarity with the area in which your home is located.
Familiarity with the price range in which your house will be listed.
Evidence of advertising and marketing ability.
References from previous sellers.
Questions to Ask Agents:
Are you a full-time or part-time agent?
What is the average number of days your listings are on the market before selling?
Will you service our listings personally or will we be working with your assistants?
How many sellers/buyers are you currently representing?
What is your internet marketing program?
What is your policy on responding to phone calls/emails/text messages?
How much of your business is generated by referrals?
What references can you provide?
Do you offer an "easy exit" listing so that I can end our agreement if I am not satisfied?