All Agents Are Not Created Equal
I remember my first day as a Broker. I was just hired on as a new agent and I was in a class meeting with other new agents. It was the start of the class, when the lead teacher came in and said this "Agents are not created equal, don't ever assume another agent will do things correctly. Always do your best by checking the facts yourself to ensure you are doing the best for your client". This stuck with me. In a world where pretty much anyone would say you can hire on any agent to sell your home, its just not true. It breaks down to the value the agent can offer you. How are they willing to do what no one else is doing, and make you stand out above the rest. Research shows there are three groups of buyers; 15% always want to pay the lowest price, 5% always want to pay the highest price, and 80% always want the best value.
Value can be subjective. What is important, is that your agent understands the fundamentals of value. There are four areas which represent a persons core values. It is their family, occupation, what they do for fun, and their dreams. As an agent who offers value, its important to offer value in a business sense, but that can truly only be done when you connect with your client to their core. When you understand the client's true wants and needs, the real estate transaction from contract to close goes much faster. From both the seller side and the buyer side, adding true value helps both get what they truly want from the transaction.
A great agent will bring market knowledge and experience to the table, to help with any buyer or seller, regardless if its their first time purchasing or selling a home. It is the agents responsibility to educate the client on the value they can bring. A good play is for the client to keep in mind their return on investment. When a seller brings in agents for a listing appointment, keep an eye on the ones who don't always agree with you. It is the agents job to educate you on the market, and tell you insights so you can make the right decision for yourself, knowing all the facts.
Despite the heavy use of the internet, home buyers and sellers prefer using a real estate agent to navigate them through the process of buying or selling a home. When picking your agent, pick the one best for you and has your interest as their number one. Research shows consumers are taking longer than average to find a property of their choice, averaging 10 weeks compared to an average of 7 weeks. Having an agent who knows how to add value, can really close this gap. Which gets both the seller and buyer to where they want to be; happy.