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Your Agent's Role in the Sale of Your Home

By
Real Estate Agent with Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc.

What do you expect of your real estate agent?

It's okay for you to blurt out an un-edited list of demands that will make your agent just about fall out of the chair, thinking "Why did I open this can of worms?"

Or you may hesitate to answer because you know what you want, but you don't know if it's reasonable to expect.

Crofton real estate agents

Canton, Massachusetts, Buyer Agent and Attorney Christine Smith summed up her customer service philosophy in a post on Activerain yesterday, Put the Client First and the Rest Will Take Care of Itself, and that probably sums up what you want as a home seller or buyer:  Always put me first!

This means different things to different people, but here's a short list that I've gleaned over the years from asking prospective clients what they expect in their agent:

  1. Listen to me... and hear me.
  2. Be honest with me.
  3. Educate and advise me.
  4. Relentlessly advocate for my best interests.
  5. Get my home sold (or find me the right home).

These are perfectly reasonable expectations for you to have, and you may have others.  Whatever they are, be sure to make them clear to any agent you interview.  If you're not sure they "get" it, interview others until you find someone you can trust to deliver.

But... just in case you're disappointed, double-check your agreement with the agent before you sign it to make sure there is a termination clause that you both agree is fair.

Thinking of selling your home in the greater Crofton area?  Request a Home Evaluation today from a Crofton REALTOR to find out what your home is worth in today's market.

Posted by

This infoMargaret Wodarmation was provided to you by Margaret Woda, an Associate Broker with Long & Foster Real Estate in Crofton Maryland. Contact Margaret today for general real estate information or to learn how she can help you buy or sell a home in Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton, Davidsonville, Gambrills, and Odenton. 

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Comments (6)

Stephen Proski
Real Estate Kailua Kona, Hawaii - Kailua-Kona, HI
Real Estate Kailua Kona Hawaii

Margaret, as agents who work with Sellers we have a fiduciary responsibilty to the them and that is why we enter into a contract agreement.  I always give my Sellers an escape clause if they are not satisfied with my services.  I would rather depart as friends then as enemies.

Sep 09, 2011 03:32 AM
Connie Harvey
Pilkerton Realtors - Brentwood, TN
Realtor - Nashville TN Real Estate

Margaret, funny I was just writing a post about Buyer's agency and was covering some of the very same points. Especially the Always put me First!

Sep 09, 2011 03:33 AM
Michelle Francis
Tim Francis Realty LLC - Atlanta, GA
Realtor, Buckhead Atlanta Homes for Sale & Lease

Margaret, 

Great post.  Went on a listing appointment yesterday, where the potential client stated "selling a home is all about having an agent with an agressive marketing plan".  I quickly shared that the home had to be priced right or no amount of aggressive marketing can counter that!  

I tell folks all the time they can fire me if I am not doing a good job for them.  It's in the contract already, but I want folks to be happy that I am their agent AND taking care of them.  No takers so far, but gives folks the understanding that I stand behind my performance and actions.

All the best, Michelle

Sep 09, 2011 04:03 AM
Margaret Goss
@Properties - Winnetka, IL
Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate

It may be a short list but it is an accurate list.  These are the things that we should be doing, each and every time without exception.  Do it right and you'll have a client for life.

Sep 09, 2011 06:22 AM
Margaret Woda
Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. - Crofton, MD
Maryland Real Estate & Military Relocation

Stephen, I've been shocked to discover how many agents do not have an escape clause in their listing agreement.  I have a client for life who wanted to fire their agent and hire me last year, but she had a one-year listing with no escape clause.  He eventually sold her house, but she has referred many people to me and now hired me as her buyer's agent.  That one commission is all her original agent will ever see from her!

Connie - That really does sum it up, doesn't it!

Michelle - What a perfect response that was.  Price and condition are the two essentials.  No amount of marketing will compensate.

Margaret - That's what I believe.  It's interesting... sometimes they have trouble articulating this list, but what they say does fit.

Sep 09, 2011 12:10 PM
Kelly Young
The Platinum Group Realtors - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Real Estate ~ 719-226-0126

Margaret, I have standard clause that says I can cancel the listing with 30 days notice and it has been beneficial several times when it just is not a win/win situation.  I appreciate it and believe my sellers have as well because it gives them the option to try and go get what they think they are missing or not getting.

Sep 11, 2011 02:39 PM