When selling a home, choosing the right realtor is key to ensuring that you get the strongest offers and the least hassle. The ideal agent should have a perfect mixture of credentials, motivation, and communication, and sorting through your options may seem daunting. Luckily, you can use a few simple strategies to narrow down the field and find only the most qualified real estate agents to handle your property.
Reach Out to Recent Clients
Any legitimate realtor should be willing and able to provide you with contact information for some clients whose homes they have recently sold. Once you have gotten in touch, focus on finding crucial information, such as the asking price compared to the final sales price and how long the property was on the real estate market. Of course, asking about the client’s experience with the agent does not hurt.
Check Their Credentials
As with many other professions, real estate agents can have specialties or areas of advanced training that make them more or less suitable for certain situations. Look for designations such as CRS, which indicates that the real estate agent has specific experience in residential real estate, or SRES, which suggests that the agent has received additional training to help buyers and sellers over the age of 50. Also, remember that real estate agents get licensed by province, so you can check with a regional commission to ensure that their license is valid and that they have not faced any disciplinary actions.
Look for the Right Marketing
Always look to see how a realtor markets other homes they are selling because it is very likely that your home would get the same treatment. Do they advertise open houses, put up flyers, advertise it on the best homes for sale websites, send direct mail to nearby neighborhoods, or offer virtual tours? Do the photographs in their listings look like a professional real estate photographer did them? If the agent’s real estate marketing strategies appear ineffective or seem more focused on the agent than the properties they are selling, you will likely lose out on potential home buyers.
Inquire about Support
Many real estate agents operate in small teams that help handle the logistics and ensure that the realtor is not overwhelmed by multiple clients. Still, in some cases, a support team is used as an excuse to pass the client off to someone who might not have the expertise or work ethic you expect. Before taking on a real estate agent, clarify the team’s role in the process.
Seek Clear Communication
You will be spending considerable time in contact with your real estate agent, so it is critical to find someone who offers clear, open, and honest lines of communication. A charismatic agent with strong negotiating skills is a significant plus when talking to buyers. However, you also want someone who will keep you updated on any changes or trends in the real estate market, provide feedback from open houses, and take the time to find out what your goals and priorities as a seller are.
Gauge Local Expertise
Although understanding the US housing market is important, it is even more important to realize that not every real estate agent will have a strong understanding of the local market you are trying to sell. Some realtors represent expansive regions, sometimes even traveling to other out-of-area towns to make a sale. In contrast, others may be recent transplants with plenty of experience but have not had time to establish familiarity with the neighborhood. Try to gauge an agent’s knowledge of the local market by asking about some homes you know have been sold or are currently for sale. If the agent can not tell you any details, they may not be the right choice for selling a home quickly at the best possible price.
Selling a home in today’s market can be stressful, and a mediocre realtor can compound that stress through poor management and communication, often costing you precious time and money. Using the strategies above, you can weed out the unqualified realtors and ensure that the real estate agent you choose will use their experience and knowledge to work in your best interests.
