Are you gambling or did you really want to list your home?

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Are you gambling or did you really want to list your home?

Many time we hear about sellers listing their homes with an agent who is a friend or even an agent who they see advertising in a paper.

Is this the best way to choose an agent? I am not really sure...

Many people advise to get referrals and I thing that is an excellent start but be careful many people just refer "Aunt Sally" or even "Mom"

I think sellers would be well advised not to GAMBLE with the choice of a listing agent

Here are a couple question to ask any agent you are considering using:

(certainly there are more but this really will put things in perspective)

What are your numbers?

how many sales did you have last year?

Sellers: Please, Please do not just roll the dice!

Charles McDonald
PRINCIPAL BROKER

Charlottesville Real Estate
Solutions for Buyers and Sellers

(direct) 434-515-1585

Posted by Charlottesville Real Estate on 02/17/2010 02:36 PM

Comments (17)

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Originally posted at: Charlottesville Real Estate: Are you gambling or did you really want to list your home?

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17 Comments on Are you gambling or did you really want to list your home?

FEB

2010

A few other questions:

How long have you been in the business?
What is your average list-price-to-sales-price ratio?
What is your marketing plan or strategy to sell my home?
What separates you from your competition?
What haven't I asked you that I need to know?

It's hard to compete with "Aunt Sally" for the listing. Do the sellers want to sell or just "help" a friend or relative?

Hi Charles,

I'm not sure I'd agree with sellers picking an agent based on how many sales an agent had in a year.

I do like Rick's question instead: What is your average list-price-to-sales-price ratio. The answer to that speaks volumes!

Thanks for reminding sellers that they shouldn't just pick an agent out of a hat.

Pam.

I'm finding sellers are become more savvy. They are checking references and looking for quantifable RECENT experience. If you are waiting for the market to recover to step up your business it might pass you by. I have 3 new listings coming in the next week and everyone of them did their homework before deciding I was the right agent for them.

Some tell me that they just want to test the market. I have had clients who want to upgrade or downsize with particular properties but it always is a gamble, we want to buy this but we need to get this much, always at the high end, for their house...
From balmy Washington State, where snow is a 4 letter word!
Paul

Charles: There are some listing agents in Northern Virginia whose numbers would dazzle, but customer service and ethical character would disappoint. There's got to be something behind the numbers. This is where your gut comes in.

Great post. I always welcome sellers to shop around,but at that point they're sold on me. I like Ricks additional questions cause sometimes the numbers can be perhaps bias.

Would a seller rather list with an agent who has 100 listings or with an agent that has 12 and is able to service their clients to the fullest ability? Shop around to find the right fit...that will yield better results.

Great point. Find out who you are listing with so you can ensure it will be marketed correctly and with a reputable agent.

Very good advice, Charles :) Asking the right questions could make all the difference in the world, especially in today's market.

Debi

I agree we certainly don't want an agent that is afraid to tell you what needs to be done with condition or price. Very difficult if you are related.

FEB

2010

Charles the questions are all so appropriate, but at the end of the day, most people have a fear of real estate and agents and may well just seek the comfort of Aunt Sally. The key is to have the client that has no Aunt Sally. I was just interviewed by an agent from Ma for a listing for her brother and parents. She was asked by here family to do this as they didn't want the stress. Yesterday I got the referral sheets for both, so I must have answered the question correctly.

It looks to me like we could come up with an excellent check-list just based on the comments here!

Hi Charles, I agree that sometimes the number of sales do not relate to the level of service. I always tell my listing prospects, if at anytime they think I'm not doing a good job they can fire me, and I do everything I can not to get fired!

Charles, great discussion going on here. I always like to have them do a Google search for agents they know and then ask them to Google my name. Then we play around with keyword searches and it pretty well shows who is marketing effectively on the Internet. Big question in this market. Excellent post!

Indeed, it is well worth the time to check out your agent prior to listing with that person!

Charles great post one thing I wont' do is list friends home it cause of many problems if it does not sell.

I hope you have a great weekend.

FEB

2010

Charles

References and lots of personal testimonials are important in my book.

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Charlottesville Real Estate

Charlottesville, VA

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Charles McDonald 434-515-1585

Address: Charlottesville Real Estate Solutions, 2013 Woodbrook Court, Charlottesville, VA, 22901

Office Phone: (434) 515-1585

Cell Phone: (434) 981-1585

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