How do you choose an agent?
How do you choose an agent to sell your home? It is a question that is often contemplated by many.
Do you go with the agent who has the cheapest commission or is throwing in freebies? Do you select the agent whose office is located around the corner from your home? Or do you choose the agent that a friend recommended?
In my opinion, there are the six things you need to consider when choosing an agent:
1. First of all, find an agent who cares about you and demonstrates they want to achieve the best possible result for you. You need to know you have an agent on your side who genuinely wants to help you through one of the most stressful experiences in life.
2. Secondly, find a skilled agent who can negotiate. Test them… ask for proof. They will all TELL you they are good… but you need them to demonstrate it. Anyone can sell a house, but an agent with strong negotiation skills will put tens of thousands of extra dollars in your pocket.
3. Next, find an agent who has a solid track record. When it comes time to sign on the dotted line, you need to know that the agent you are trusting to manage your property transaction has the necessary experience to handle every element.
4. Find an agent who has a strong brand behind them and an even stronger marketing plan. You don’t need to spend ridiculous amounts of money to market your home effectively, but you do need to find an agent who knows how to promote your home to the right market in order to get the best bang for your buck. You really do need to invest to ensure you find the best buyer.
5. Beware of the lure of a discount. Everybody loves a discount but not all agents are the same. An agent who satisfies all the points above will not have the lowest commission rate, guaranteed… but they will be the cheapest agent in the long run. They will put more money in your pocket. If an agent's only point of difference is their cheap commission, then they are giving away their money… imagine what they will do with yours. Think about it... There is never a situation in life when the best product or service is the same price (or cheaper than) the rest.
6. And my last tip – find someone that you like. You will have to work closely with your agent every step of the way through the property transaction which can take weeks or months. So if you don’t like them from the start, look for someone else that will make selling your home a pleasant experience.
So, in summing up if you have found somebody that ticks the above boxes... Congratulations! Put them to work, but if you haven’t... keep looking. They are out there.