5 tips on choosing the right real estate agent to sell your property

Many of our clients are seeing an opportunity in the current real estate market. If you’ve been thinking that now could be the time to sell your home and upgrade, you’re definitely not alone. However, because the overall number of listings are lower than past years and properties are selling fast, it’s critical to get the right property agent. Having the right agent can mean a big difference with how long it takes to sell, the ease of the process, and of course, the eventual sale price for your property. Here are a few tips on choosing the right real estate agent, from our mortgage brokers and the expert agents we work with.

Tip 1. Watch local listings for who is selling

Take the time to do a bit of research on what agents are active in your local area and how many sales they’ve made recently. When you think that there are significantly less properties on the market right now, agents who are selling the few properties that are available will be speaking to the keen buyers who are missing out.

The most active agents in your suburb may hold an invaluable database of extremely interested buyers who are looking in your area but haven’t yet found the right property.

Our team at Mortgage Choice in Arundel & Broadbeach work with reputable local agents who are actively selling in surrounding suburbs. We’re happy to have a chat with you and recommend the ones that would be a good fit for your needs.

Tip 2. Knowledge of the local market

If an Agent is active in your area, then they should be able to give you an in-depth snapshot of the local market and surrounding areas.

It’s a good sign if they can tell you about local schools, transportation options, the demographic of residents in the area as well as the sorts of buyers looking for homes that your property will appeal to.

Tip 3. Word of mouth is important

Just like looking at online reviews to find a tried and tested mortgage broker for your home loan (like us!), it’s as important read reviews to find out what sellers and buyers are saying about a real estate agent before you engage them.

Reviews are critical to just about every business these days, so looking at a few sites like Google and Facebook, where agents have listings and pages, or more specific industry websites like RateMyAgent, will give you a cross-section of feedback from real customers on their experiences.

Remember, negative or ‘bad’ reviews can be just as important as 5-star reviews. Have a look to see if, and how, the agent responded to any negative reviews – this can give you insight into how much they care about client feedback and how they respond to situations that might not have gone to plan for a client.

Tip 4. Be sure you feel comfortable

While reviews and other clients’ feedback is important, it’s important to choose an Agent who gels with your personality. Selling a home can be a stressful experience at times. So, working with an Agent that you feel comfortable having conversations with during potentially stressful situations, like receiving potential buyers’ offers and negotiations that follow, can relieve some of that stress.

Speaking with an Agent a few times over the phone or via text, as well as in person and by email, can all give you a good feel for whether their personality and communication style should fit with you if you decide to use them for your property sale.

Tip 5. Find out what costs you’ll be up for

Your agent’s selling commission and any additional listing costs are another factor to weigh up. In Queensland for example, commissions are negotiable and there can be big differences between what you might pay for an Agent to sell your home.

It’s smart to find this out from the get-go, as well as know exactly what you’re getting for your money. A reputable, experienced Agent may charge more commission, but as is often the case, you’ll likely get what you pay for.

In addition to the commission, vendors are often asked to pay for their property’s marketing campaign costs. It’s a good idea to ask an Agent what you should expect to be charged to get the most bang for your advertising buck – and factor this into your decision and costs.

Let us help you find a great Real Estate Agent

Our team at Mortgage Choice in Arundel & Broadbeach have built some excellent relationships with experienced, honest and hard-working agents in our local area and around the country.

We would love to help you find the right agent who will care about you as their client, and will fight hard to get you the best possible price for your property in as little time as possible.

Contact us on 07 5676 6433 for Mortgage Choice in Broadbeach and 07 5594 6746 for our Mortgage Choice in Arundel office. You can also book a free, no-obligation appointment online with one of our mortgage brokers directly at our locations - click to book for Broadbeach and Arundel.