Real Estate Blog - Behind the Scenes - After the Listing Appointment

Home : Blogs : Margaret Woda, Maryland Real Estate : Maryland Real Estate

Behind the Scenes - After the Listing Appointment

De-bunking the myth that "My agent didn't do a damn thing to get my house sold... she just got lucky and now I have to pay her all that money for nothing!"

Since "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity," let's take a peek at Act III of Behind the Scenes to find out what makes your agent (and you) so "lucky."

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

When your agent returns to her office with your signed listing, it is dark inside. The office has closed for the night, but she takes a deep breath, unlocks the door and steps inside to begin the job of selling your home.

Scene 1... At the agent's desk

Your agent reviews all the ddocuments you completed and signed to make sure they are not missing any information, initials, dates or signatures.
Your agent makes several copies of all the signed listing documents - for you, her own file, her office manager, and her broker.
Your agent makes copies of additional documentation you provided including your plat, floorplan, most recent loan statements, etc.
Your agent uploads the photos from her camera to her computer so they can be included in the MLS listing
Your agent enters all relevant data and photos into the MLS.
Your agent sends copies of MLS printouts to you and makes copies for herself, her branch manager and her broker.
Your agent sends electronic copies of the MLS printout to top buyers' agents in the area near your home.
Your agent orders sign and lockbox installation for your home.

Scene 2... Early the next day, your agent returns to her office to begin the marketing efforts for your home.

Your agent prepares a Buyer Profile for your home to determine the best way to target likely buyers as part of a comprehensive marketing plan designed to provide maximum exposure for the property
Your agent creates a marketing message for your property that satisfies the wants/needs of prospective buyers
Your agent reviews photos taken earlier to determine if they "fit" the marketing message; if not, she schedules a time for more photos.
Your agent creates a virtual tour or real estate show of your property
Your agent adds the virtual tour/real estate show to the MLS
Your agent obtains a custom domain/URL for your property
Your agent creates a custom website for your property
Your agent designs an online flier for your property
Your agent publishes the online flier to dozens of traditional and non-traditional real estate websites
Your agent identifies potential blog topics that will help create SEO and links for the custom website for your property.
Your agent schedules an agent tour, if applicable
Your agent designs a print flier for your property and makes copies or emails them to a print house.
Your agent posts showing information online for showing company to make appointments for prospective buyers to see your home
Your agent posts all required and customary disclosures online for easy access by prospective buyers and their agents.

Scene 3... In the coming weeks

Your agent reviews her checklist to confirm that no detail has been overlooked.
Your agent phones or emails agents to thank them for showing your property and asks for feedback regarding their buyers' interest.
Your agent contacts you at least weekly with the following information: new listings and new contracts in your community; significant changes in interest rates; feedback from any showings; website traffic for your property
Your agent writes another blog about the amenities in your neighborhood or the features in your home
Your agent previews competing properties that come on the market.
Your agent quickly replies to any inquiries about your home from prospective buyers.
Your agent prepares print or online advertising and places it for the greatest possible exposure.
Your agent mails postcards to the target market and the area surrounding your home.
Your agent again contacts buyers agents near your home via email or phone.
Etc., Etc., Etc.

For some home sellers, your agent will refer someone to help you clean, repair or stage your home; she may hold an open house, depending on the property location and condition; she may refer you to an agent in your destination city...

Your agent knows that "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." Her thorough and accurate preparation, presentation, and effective marketing and followup are key elements in creating this "luck" for you... and the reason you pay her all that money - but not UNLESS and UNTIL she procures a buyer whose terms are acceptable to you.

To be continued...

Behind the Scenes - When an offer is received

Earlier Episodes of Behind the Scenes:

Posted by Margaret Woda, Maryland Real Estate on 08/27/2009 11:51 PM

Comments (4)

Listing in the Home Selling Channel

behind the scenes, listing

This post has been included in Maryland Information Anne Arundel County, MD Information
Post is included in group: Realtors®
Post is included in group: Posts to Localism

4 Comments on Behind the Scenes - After the Listing Appointment

AUG

Hi Margaret -- it's the same with the "buyers' agent" -- all we do is unlock doors! HA HA HA. Today I spent 5 hours at a home inspection, I faxed Sellers Disclosures, prepared escrow instructions, had my client review dislcosures, talked to: 3 lenders, 2 escrow officers, search properties for over 2 hours, reviewed buyers GFE, reviewed buyers closing statements, blogged . . .

AUG

Hi Margaret, I hadn't read past the 1st sentence and I loved where this was going. I'll be back in second ( after i read the whole thing) to tell you rest.

Back. Well Margaret, this is just wonderful and should be the tutorial for any seller that is about to engage the services of a professional. Then to be followed up in an office meeting in every brokerage and until everyone has a clear understanding what it means to be lucky.

Well done and a great read and Looking forward to more .

Margaret while all these things do happen and there are plenty of Realtors that work real hard including myself there in NO denying we make a good living. It is easy to see why consumers have a hard time paying us the kind of money they do. I think we both can agree there is not much of a difference in work selling a 300k home over a 600k home yet we make double the money. I think we should feel fortunate to be in an industry that really rewards a good agent.

Carla - Yes we do EARN our commissions. In all fairness, I don't believe most consumers have a clue what real estate professionals really do, and hopefully this series will help shed some light. Your comment provides a greater teaser for a future post outlining what buyer's agents do.

William - This began one day a few weeks ago, after about 2 days of preparing for a listing appointment. I thought it might be good for consumers - but also for training my new assistant.

Bill - Having seen your listings advertsied on Activerain, I do understand your perspective. Many of us don't list homes in upscale communities as a matter of routine, however. When we do, we may indeed spend double our usual marketing budget. As you point out, agents perform much of the same work for a less expensive home and it takes four of those $150,000 Dallas subdivision homes to equal one of your $600,000 Metrowest homes for "about" the same money. I'm betting that agent doesn't feel as "well compensated" as you do.

This blog does not allow anonymous comments