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Tips for Home Sellers: Choosing an Agent

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Real Living GreatWest

So now that I’ve spent some time giving tips for consumers looking to buy a home, I will devote my next few post to providing advice for sellers.  Even though the market is dominated by foreclosures and short sales, which are significantly discounted compared to a traditional sale, it still could be the right time to sell.  There are a lot of buyers out there, with great credit, looking for a new home.  Many buyers don’t want to have to deal with the headache or drama associated with foreclosures and short sales so they prefer to buy a non-distressed home, even if they have to pay more for it.

The first step in selling your home, is selecting a Realtor.  A good Realtor can be one of the most important parts of selling your home.  They will provide you will information regarding current market conditions and where you should price your home.  They can also provide referrals to staging and moving companies.

You want to look for an agent who is active and knowledgeable in your area.  It is also common to use the same agent you used when you first purchased the home, provided you are happy with their service.  As with selecting an agent for the buying process, you want to make sure you are comfortable with him or her.  Does the agent answer your questions sufficiently? How quickly do they respond to your phone calls? These are the types of questions to ask yourself.

What it really comes down to, is you want an agent whom you are comfortable with and who will best market your property.  There are many marketing venues when it comes to real estate and your agent should utilize a lot of them.  The best agents will use, MLS, virtual tours, social media, craigslist and a few listing web sites.  The key is to make your property as visible as possible.  The more people who see your how, the more likely you will sell it quickly and for your asking price.  They should also follow up with agents who showed the home and ask for their input on the price, staging and condition of the home.

Remember, what you don’t want is a “yes man”.  You agent should have an extensive knowledge of the market and the industry, and they should know more than you.  Therefore, listen to their suggestions.  They want to sell your home just as much as you do and they know what works and what doesn’t.

Next time I will go over what pre-marketing is and what you should be doing during that process.  Take care and remember, good things come to those who make it happen!

Comments (1)

Patrick Henry
PMZ - Stockton, CA
PMZ

Good points. Some agents might have to work the rust off of how to become a buyers agent again.

Jan 28, 2011 07:39 AM