Selling a home is an emotional yet exciting experience—there is the thrill of closing a deal and moving into a new house. A good real estate agent who understands the market’s ins and outs will enhance the whole house selling process, making it as smooth as possible. However, with so many realtors to choose from, finding the right fit will be more of a challenge than you anticipate.
Working with a top agent who is trustworthy and experienced can go a long way in ensuring your home sells at top dollar. To help with the selection process, here are ten tips from expert real estate agents.
Seek Referrals from Other Homeowners
Often, the internet is the first-place home sellers head to when in need of a real estate agent. While technology makes it easier to find a realtor, finding the right agent is still a human-to-human choice. For this reason, referrals are the best.
Referrals from past clients are the biggest compliment an agent can get. If you know people who have sold their homes recently, ask them who they would recommend. Additionally, ask around to find the expert agent in the area where your house is located.
Once you have found a few referrals, Google or Yelp them, check their website, interview them, and then carefully pick the agent you want to work with.
Choose the Person, Not the Experience
Instead of choosing a real estate agent who works for you, choose an agent who will work with you. Deciding to work with an agent solely based on their experience may not be a great idea. Although it’s good to be experienced, it isn’t everything.
You are going to spend a lot of time with the agent. So, it would be best if you choose someone who is reliable and real. Choose an agent for you and not for the house. Consider factors like the agent’s communication and negotiation skills.
Chemistry is Key
Before picking an agent to work with, interview at least three agents. Focus on things like neighborhood expertise and look for hyperlocal. Ask yourself, “Are they marketing themselves or their properties?” and “can you trust them, are they honest?”
Remember, chemistry is the key. You need an agent who understands you and is compassionate. Selling a house is a stressful task, and you need an agent who is patient with you and your circumstances.
When interviewing real estate agents, see if they share the same emotions, outlook on life, and personality, as you do.
Find a Realtor Who Has Your Best Interests at Heart
Does your real estate agent have your best interests at heart?
During your meeting with the real estate agents, be honest and transparent about what you are looking for and analyze if they are bringing you the right options.
Feel free to ask questions upfront, and don’t be afraid to move on to a new potential agent if the relationship doesn’t feel right. Also, ensure you are entirely comfortable talking to and communicating with the real estate agent. If it feels awkward or if you find there is undue pressure placed on you, know that it isn’t the right fit.
Go with Your Gut Feeling
You might have often had people tell you to go with your gut feeling. This is because your brain uses logic and emotion when making a decision, and that particular feeling you get when doing so is called intuition or gut feeling.
When interviewing real estate agents for selling your home, look at whether they do a lot of business and have a lot of happy clients. Additionally, go with your gut feeling. If you find a real estate agent to be the right fit after the initial meeting, he or she might be the right person for the job.
Find an Agent You Can Trust
As a client, you will often be the one who begins the conversation. During the conversation, always pay close attention to the real estate agent’s mannerisms. Are they interested in listening to you and your questions?
The best and the most successful real estate agents have access to the technology it takes to make your home seen by potential buyers. However, it still takes a human being to understand your specific goals and work to achieve them. So, take your time to find a realtor with that humane factor.
Look for Conviction, Passion, and Honesty
The best way to review a real estate agent’s work is to analyze how they are marketing others’ properties. Go through their listing materials, websites, brochures, and signage. Pay close attention to their personal appearance and look for conviction, passion, and honesty.
You need an agent who will tell you what it will take to get your home to sell faster for the best price.
Ensure They Offer Adequate Support
As stated in a few points above, research your agent first. Do they have a team that supports them?
An agent who works with a team will be able to offer a high level of customer service to every customer equally. Most real estate agents work with several clients at once. The logistics of selling a home are complicated. Without support staff, it becomes easier for your realtor to miss details or fall short.
Ask if They Mitigate Risk
Find a real estate agent who is open and honest about the risks of selling your home. You want someone who can give you realistic goals and proactively mitigate risk. During your interview sessions with agents, pay close attention to those who use real data in their answers regarding neighborhood-level market performance, investment analysis, and the long-term impact of your decision to sell.
Look for Strong Core Values
Whether you are doing business or not, finding a great person comes down to their core values. Core values are vital because they tell you that the other person plays by the same rules as you do. For instance, if you an honest person, would you not want to work with someone who always tells the truth?
Last but Not the Least…
Real estate is a local game. To win, you need somebody who understands every nook and corner of the area where your house is located. The agent you choose should be able to give you a clear snapshot of the local market and surrounding areas. The right real estate agent will help your house get broader exposure, negotiate a better deal, and prevent your emotions from sabotaging your home selling journey.
