The real estate market has started to balance out over the past couple of months. If you are thinking of selling your home, you will want an experienced real estate agent who knows the current market conditions. It is also wise to choose a local real estate agent who knows your area well. Over the past couple of years, sellers were able to list their homes and they would sell almost immediately. In today's market, it is not as easy. You want a real estate agent who will go above and beyond for you and provide top-notch services.
Multiple Listing Service
First and foremost, when interviewing agents to list your home, be sure they are members of their local multiple listing service (MLS.) Having your home in the MLS is key so that all local member agents have access to your listing.
Realtor Designation
Ask the agents you are talking to if they are Realtors. Agents cannot call themselves Realtors unless they are members of their local, state, and national Realtor associations. Realtors have better training available to them. They also have to abide by the National Association of Realtors Code of Ethics which may make them better agents in general.
Comparative Market Analysis
The real estate agents you are interviewing should come prepared with a formal comparative market analysis for you. This analysis will show you the sold comparable homes in your area, the active listings in your area, and the home that are under contract and pending closing. This analysis will help you and your agent decide upon a competitive asking and sales price for your home.
Commission and Any Extras
The commission is negotiable. Be sure to consider the saying, "You get what you pay for." Discount brokers may not offer all the services you are looking for. Many full-service brokers will have top-notch listing programs. Some agents may include extras in their listing programs. Examples of these extras might include offering to pay for a pre-listing home cleaning, an hour of staging services, or a home warranty.
Preparing Your Home and Staging Advice
Your real estate agent should be able to offer you some advice on how to better prepare your home before you list it. They may advise you to declutter, start packing or remove some furniture to make rooms look bigger. They may ask you to paint a few rooms or replace some carpeting or flooring. The most important advice is to thoroughly clean your home before you list it for sale.
Professional Photos
Be sure the agent you choose has professional photos taken of your home. If they don't use a professional real estate photographer, be sure they have a good camera and training in taking professional-quality photos. The photos of your home will be in the MLS and on the internet. Most potential buyers will see them online before they step foot into your home. You want to make a good first impression.
Video Tour
Video tours of homes for sale are trending right now. Your agent can create a video tour of your home. Better yet, they can have a professional make one. They can upload the video to the MLS and other real estate websites.
Major Real Estate Websites
Make sure your agent will have your listing on all of the major real estate websites. These should include Realtor.com, Zillow.com, Trulia.com, Redfin.com, Homelight.com, their company's website, and more. You want your home's listing to be exposed to as many buyers on the market as possible.
Open Houses
Some real estate agents offer open houses as part of their listing services. Open houses are important to some sellers and not as important to others. The array of photos and video tours online nowadays serve as virtual open houses. There have also been safety issues with open houses. So, be sure to talk to your agent about the pros and cons of having an open house.
Communication and Feedback
Tell your real estate agent what your preferred forms of communication are. Be sure they are willing to provide you with what you are looking for, whether it is phone calls, emails or texts. Many agents provide their sellers with feedback on showings. Some will email or text each time feedback comes in, and some will provide you with a report once a week. If you would prefer phone calls, just ask your agent.
Negotiation Experience
Inquire about the extent of negotiation experience or training your agent has. Negotiating a contract takes skill. It is not just about negotiating the price. There are many other terms in the contract that will require negotiating.
Listing Date to Close
Your agent should work with you from the listing date through the closing date. Some agents even have a transaction management program, so you get updates on all aspects of the transaction.
Working with an agent who provides top-notch services will ease your mind and be less stressful. It is your agent's responsibility to get you the highest price for your home, in the least amount of time, and with the least amount of stress.
