It kills me...just kills me how people perceive real estate agents. In most cases, home sellers have others buzzing in their ears on everything that the agent they hired is doing something wrong. The sellers friends and family express their feelings and that creates a question in the sellers mind and a thought crosses their mind, I can't trust my agent. Remember..listing agreements and sales contracts are legal documents and taking real estate advice from a novice is not in your best interest..wouldn't you agree? Yet so many do!
Friends and family should consider keeping their opinion to themselves. Being unaware and voicing your opinion can cause a delay in a real estate transaction that could possibly hurt your loved one in the long run.
Human beings in general tend to believe they are smarter than ever because of the internet. There is a lot of folks who would like to "try" to sell their home because of all the do it yourself articles and videos. Heck watch a few YouTube videos, read some top agents blog, go to zillow...yup you are now qualified to sell a home. because you followed some generic how to sell your home article or series. Its not about how much you know...to sell a home..its about the details and the time needed to get the details done and on time.
Think about where you get your real estate information before thinking its fact: 3rd party sources of mls in some cases are outdated....they get their data from the real estate broker and in some cases the 3rd party sources do not remove old content Another source we often hear about is your brothers cousins uncle who has never sold a house but maintains a real estate license and is proud of that fact so he talks it up or how about a retired broker who hasn't sold anything in the past 10 years and will point out every flaw of your agent. In some markets selling a home can be easy, its the details that can prevent you from closing.
Agents should set the expectations up meaning keep a home seller informed on the happenings of selling their home. When you list a home try handling it from start to finish without forgetting details. You don't have to tell the home buyer or seller every gory detail...it won't be necessary if you do your job completely...if you consult with them regularly it will be obvious to them. They aren't idiots they just don't sell homes as a career and they count on you to understand what exactly is happening and being able to handle it.
At times agents don't take enough pictures or hold a house open, its as if they get to a certain point in their career and some of the service goes and its at the customer's expense. People complain to me often about this. You hired them not me. Always interview agents ask them what are they gonna do for you to get you where you want to be.
What happened to the day of going over sales contracts and listing agreements rather than expect a novice to understand the real estate lingo and legalities? I find agents devalue their own business more than any consumer would...because the necessary things that you can do to prove your expertise sometimes never happen and mis-communication and the mistrust occurs.
As a consumer I would interview agents, I would ask specifically about their marketing and systems, I would feel really good about the agent that I hired or I would not put the house on the market until I found someone who I fully trusted. I would expect to communicate, understand agreements, have a copy of fully executed documents and be active in buying or selling your property. Don't let your real estate transaction just happen to you. Demand that your agent works for and with you, you're paying for the service, its the details that will get you where you want to go.
As an agent I would fine tune systems, take the time to explain any and all listing and sales contracts and share with your customers what to expect. Tighten up your business from the sanitation to your car to your customers closing gift..make your customer participate in their transaction ....always work on improving your skills and become a master of your career...don't forget.. the details in between!
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