Sellers What’s Most Important to You When Selecting a Listing Agent?

What’s Important to You When Selecting a Listing Agent?

 

Choosing the right real estate professional to help market and sell your home is a critical part of your success, a process not to be taken lightly. And there's a lot to know about how to sell a house!

 

This post is not to tell you what to look for in an agent, although we’ll touch on that, but more about considering what’s important to you when picking the right person for that job.

 

While you might think you have no idea, especially if you are a first time seller, my bet is you do – there are things you are looking for, or hoping to find, in that special person that will have the weighty responsibility for helping you sell your property so you can move on with your life.

 

Maybe it’s their personality, or the fact they claim they are #1, or even that they quote you the highest listing price.

 

Let’s face it, you will likely make your decision to hire, at least in part, based on the issues that are important to you.

 

Here are some things I hear sellers tell me are important when they are considering different listing agents, in no particular order:

Trust

Honesty

The brokerage the agent works for

Has a marketing plan

Uses technology (or maybe you prefer someone who doesn’t?)

Lots of good quality photos and video

Regular communication

Flexibility with regard to my, and my family’s, schedule

Will tell me the truth – pricing, the home’s condition, etc.

Advice about preparing the home for the market

 

AND HERE'S SOME MORE

Someone referred to you by friends or neighbors

Selling the home quickly

Can explain the local market conditions

Getting the best price

References and testimonials

Willingness to listen

Lives in the neighborhood

Has sold other homes in the local area

Answers all my questions

Doesn’t embarrass me about how my home looks

Minimizes the hassles

Is viewed as the area specialist (or claims to be)

 

No doubt some of these strike a chord with you, or there may be something else that is very important to you in your decision to hire a particular agent. And because they are important you will either want to share these with the agents you are interviewing, or specifically inquire about them (e.g., do you have a written marketing plan; how will you market my home; will you use a professional photographer; what’s the competition for my house?) before making a decision.

 

An agent might even ask you about what’s important to you – I know I do, because I want to understand my potential client’s perspective, concerns, and questions. I even have a questionnaire on these issues that I share with prospective sellers.

 

While I started out by saying this post was not about suggesting what you should look for in an agent, a few comments are in order.

 

First, some sellers pick the agent who gives them the higher list price, or is willing to list at what the seller wants even if market data show clearly that’s wrong.

 

Sure, everyone wants to get as much as possible for their home, but selecting an agent for that reason may be one of the worst reasons to choose someone – it’s likely to be a waste of time as it will limit showings and you sure won’t get the offer you want.

 

Who will suffer by this decision? You, because your house won’t sell.

 

Secondly, you may not like it, but you need to hear the truth…about a bunch of things, like market conditions, the real value of your home, the overall condition of your property, and what needs to be done to make it market-ready. So you want someone you will be honest and truthful with you, and not just about getting the listing but about the transaction from start to finish.

 

For some other thoughts you might want to read, and seriously consider, 8 Things Sellers Should Expect From You as Their Listing Agent.

 

I’ll leave you with this parting thought. Keep in mind what you are trying to achieve by selling your home and why that’s important. It might be to down size, to find a larger home for growing family, to move to a warmer climate, or to live closer to grandkids.

 

 

**************************************

CLICK ON PHOTOS, LOGOS and ICONS BELOW TO LINK TO USEFUL

REAL ESTATE and COMMUNITY INFORMATION and

MY SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES!!

 

 

 

   

          

 

 

                   

 

  

 
 

ALL ABOUT THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA RELOCATION DUDE (link)

 

If I can provide more information about Carlsbad homes and real estate for sale and surrounding areas, the housing market in general (or locally), or otherwise assist you, friends or family in a home search or sale, please contact my mobile office or text me at (760) 840-1360 or email me at JeffDowlerSolutions@gmail.com

Serving Carlsbad (including Aviara, La Costa & Carlsbad Village),  Encinitas (including Leucadia & Olivenhain), Cardiff, Solana Beach, Del Mar, La Jolla, Rancho Santa Fe, San Marcos (including San Elijo Hills), Oceanside, Escondido, and San Diego

All content ©Copyright by Jeff Dowler. All rights reserved.