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| All Real Estate Agents Are Not Created Equal |
**Important things to look for in a Real Estate Agent**
When selling your home, one of the most important services your
real estate agent can perform is helping you set the listing
price. Most people approach a sale thinking they have a pretty
good idea of what their home should sell for. But the fact is,
until you do some serious calculations based on current market
trends, sale prices in your area, and what other similar homes
have recently sold for, there is no way you can possibly know
what price to set. Your agent will be able to help you with this
process.
**Stay away from agents who promise an unrealistically high
price**
Good real estate agents know they cannot always get the price
you expect to get. They know the market dictates your price. Any
experienced real estate professional will tell you that listing
your home at an unrealistically high price is the best way NOT
to sell it. Find a knowledgeable agent who knows your market and
is realistic about setting your price.
Don't list with an agent who promises he or she can get you an
unreasonably high price for your home. Some agents use a high
listing price as a ploy to get you to list with them. You soon
discover that the market dictates the price. After a few weeks
of getting very little traffic at the high price this agent will
come back to you and suggest you lower the price in order to
generate traffic. Unfortunately, you've lost what is usually the
most critical time period |
in selling a home - the first few
weeks immediately after it is listed.
**Don't list with a part-time agent**
Agents who are full-time professionals have a better feel for
the market, have more connections within the industry, and will
generally work harder for you. Why? Because their livelihood
depends entirely on their ability to successfully and repeatedly
close real estate transactions.
**Look for an agent who is aggressive about getting new
business**
Agents who don't advertise or who are not actively looking for
business are probably talking to fewer people and doing fewer
deals. Agents who are out in the market looking for new business
have their fingers on the pulse of the market. They know what
buyers are looking for, and how much they are willing to pay.
They will also know of people who are actively looking to buy,
and are dealing with more agents who have buyers too, so they
have a better chance of selling your home quickly.
**Experience and productivity are important**
As with most professions, experience pays in real estate.
Experienced agents know the market and the marketing process.
They are better at anticipating the kind of traffic you should
expect, and will have valuable advice on how to expedite your
sale. In other words, an experienced agent who is actively
involved in the market has the best chance of quickly and
smoothly helping you to buy or sell your home.
**Use an agent who is |
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part of a larger organization**
Agents who are part of an active, aggressive local office will
have access to "inside" information that could be helpful in
your quest to buy or sell a property. Virtually all agents now
have access to MLS listings, but new listings often take a
number of days to get on the MLS system. A "connected" agent
will know about new listings immediately after they come
available.
Be sure your agent is part of a national network? This is less
important than it used to be because there are fewer and fewer
truly independent agents out there. Most agents in Canada are
affiliated with a national chain, and all have access to MLS
listings. Being part of a national chain is especially important
if you're selling in one city and moving to another. Your
selling agent can refer you to a professional, compatible agent
in your destination city - and keep in close contact with that
agent so both your selling and buying efforts are closely
coordinated.
**Use an agent who has your interests at heart**
Find an agent who seems primarily interested in sharing
expertise and market knowledge in an honest and straightforward
manner. Be suspicious of agents who just tell you what you want
to hear. Remember that neither you nor your agent can determine
the price of your property. It will be determined by the market.
Your agent just has a better chance of anticipating what the
market price will be.
Don't deal with and agent who |
spends a lot of effort trying to
market additional high-priced products and services? The primary
service your agent can offer you is fairly simple: to set a
realistic price, and to represent you in the market place. When
it comes to additional services such as special listings, and
other expensive add-ons, ask yourself if these will attract
prospective buyers and help you sell your property more quickly.
Many of the same questions, hesitations and strategies connected
with seeking out professional assistance in any field -- whether
you're looking for a doctor, dentist, lawyer or accountant --
come into play when you're selecting a real estate agent.
It doesn't matter whether you are buying or selling. And it
doesn't matter whether you respond to a printed advertisement,
see an agent's name on a sign, or are referred by a friend or
relative, it is important to select the right agent. In fact it
might be worth meeting with and discussing your situation with
at least two different agents before you make a final decision.
At the very least you should arm yourself with some clear
requirements like the ones above before making your final
decision.
About the author:
Rick Hendershot is a marketing consultant, writer, and internet
publisher. For more Real Estate articles see Free Real Estate
Articles. Go here to post a Free For Sale By
Owner listing.
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