Instead of talking about how to find an agent, let’s visit how not to find and agent. Here are nine things you might want to consider avoiding:
The agent is a relative or best friend. Unless you know they have the experience and knowledge to handle your most valuable asset, you might want to go elsewhere. Hiring cousin Bubbles who is fresh out of school and needs a listing is a recipe for disaster and family feud.
Cheaper Commission. The old adage is “if I would give away my money so easily, how easily would I give away yours?” Realtors® are supposed to look out for the client’s best interest, but it might be easy for them to rationalize that the higher commission property would be good for the buyer! In line with that is the seller probably won’t get as many showings with a lower pay rate for the selling agent.
Letting greed rule the asking price. I once made a listing presentation for an estate, and after research arrived at $379,000 as the asking price. Another agent somehow arrived at $579,000. After two years and multiple reductions they sold it for … drumroll please … $379,000!!! Also, the other party is no longer in real estate. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t.
The Agent Works Part Time. Maybe it’s better to say your agent, as a buyer or seller, should put in the time and work to represent you professionally. One of the worst things you can do is hire someone who does it for “extra money”. It’s okay to have extra income, but if you want to hire a real estate professional, make sure real estate is their first priority.
The Agent Doesn’t Know Your Market. Real estate is a local business. Hire a local agent. Many sellers list their property with Atlanta agents, thinking they will bring in more buyers. Not saying Atlanta agents are bad, but while you’re at it you might as well check out the ones in Chattanooga and Columbus too! Just because we can practice real estate anywhere in the state doesn’t mean it’s a good idea.
The Agent Doesn’t Work With Your Type of Property. There are worlds of differences in selling a home, farmland, commercial lots, offices, investment property, and so on. Make sure the agent you choose has plenty of experience dealing with your type of transaction.
The Agent’s Face Shows Up on Public Search Sites. They pay to be there, and may know nothing about the listed property or the area location.
Choose Knowledge Over Age. Being a real Bobcat on a computer doesn’t mean you can function well in real estate. However, being old and wise does not overcome a lack of computer skills in the current state of real estate skill sets. Choose someone you trust and you comfortably communicate.
Last but not least …
Choose Someone Who Can Negotiate!!! Many agents are more concerned with closing the sale and collecting the commission than representing the client’s best interests. If you feel like you are being unreasonably pressured into taking the first offer or to offer the asking price, you might want to ask “for whom do you work”? In our local market, most people are used to negotiating some. Not so much in Atlanta. Frankly, I don’t even know what they do in Chattanooga or Columbus. Don’t work those places.
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