SELLING THE SPACE COAST, 1 YARD AT A TIME!
7 Questions To Ask Your REALTOR Before Listing Your Home
Many sellers make the mistake of assuming all real estate agents are the same and list with the first agent that comes along. Not taking the time to research the agent who will list your house could cost you thousands of dollars. I recommend interviewing two or three agents to find out which one is the right one for you.
1. Ask prospective agents for some information about themselves. You can often get a good idea about which agents are the most professional by looking at their personal marketing material. If they don t have professional marketing material, how will they market your home? Do they have a website? Any professional agent should have a professional, personal website. Most buyers are on the internet doing their research. How long does it take your agent to respond to you? If they don t respond quickly and efficiently, assume they will handle the listing of your home the same way. Your agent should also be using a smart phone so not only calls, but also emails are recieved instantly.
2. Ask what type of marketing plan and strategy your agent will use. If your agent is merely putting your home in the MLS, posting a sign in your lawn, and then holding an open house, it will do little to sell your home. Home sales competition is fierce. What will your agent do to make your house stand out in the crowd? The agent you choose should be able to show you a complete marketing system tailored to your home. A good listing agent is a good marketing agent. Many agents boast they ve been in the industry for a long time, but the length of time the agent has been in the industry is not a sure fire sign that they are a quality agent. They may not have time to spend on your listing or more importantly be using new technology & skills to market your listing. Ask me about THE EDGE ACTION PLAN & MARKETING SYSTEM to get your home SOLD!!
3. Ask your agent for comparable prices in your neighborhood and review them with your agent. Will your agent be honest with you? In today s market, it s easy for an agent to list your home, but pricing is one of the most critical components to get your home sold. Take good care in choosing an agent that will be honest with you in pricing your home to sell, not just list it. The selling price should attract potential buyers to your home, net you the most profit, and reflect the current market conditions. The overall condition of your home will be a deciding factor in the listing price of your home. Be realistic and avoid agents who will overprice just to get the listing. Some agents will suggest a high dollar amount just to get you to list, while others will under price a home just so it will sell quickly. I do a detailed Property Analysis that looks at comparable homes sold, currently on the market, and withdrawn or expired. My Property Analysis not only reviews pricing, but also strategies to get TOP DOLLAR for your home.
4. Ask what the listing agreement entails. Have your agent go over every detail of the listing agreement with you until you understand it completely. When does the listing start and end? A standard length of a listing is typically six months depending on the market. What fees do you have to pay? Know exactly what fees you will pay and consider that cheaper is not always better. If the agent stands to make very little commission, you can be certain that he/she will not do the very best to market your property effectively. Be careful of agents who offer to list for a lower commission they will usually spend less money and time marketing your home.
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FACT: Many agents in the area will most likely not show and sell your house if the commission is discounted. Showing agents are trying to make money too. If your neighbor is offering a better commission for their home, which one would you choose to show?
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FACT: Houses listed by discount brokers generally stay on the market longer and sell at a lower price. Offering a full commission is part of selling your house for TOP DOLLAR.
5. Ask about which disclosure laws apply to you. Your agent should help you with locating professional inspectors for the various mandatory home inspections required in your area. Use your property fact sheet, property disclosure statement, pest control report, mold & lead based paint disclosures, plans for alterations or additions, and special equipment report for pools, spas, sprinklers and alarm systems to your advantage in marketing your home. Your agent should handle all of these for you. Your agent should recommend getting the necessary ones completed up front before your buyer steps into the picture. Not having these done in advance will only complicate the sale. We will discuss these in detail and why I recommend doing them when you list your home, not when you sell it.
6. Ask what separates your agent from the competition. Does your agent have a written marketing plan? Your agent should have effective advertising including 24/7 marketing capability and your home displayed on their website. Agents who have innovative and creative advertising strategies will always out perform agents who rely on outdated techniques. Merely putting an ad in a newspaper, holding an open house, and listing it in the MLS no longer gets the job done. There are numerous ways to make your home available to the buying public. Be sure your agent uses every one of them to attract the largest collection of buyers.
7. Ask how Internet savvy your agent is. Most buyers are researching homes on the internet. Make sure your agent is technology friendly and is using it to your advantage. Make sure they have your home effectively marketed on the internet. Does their website look professional and attract traffic? Is your house featured online with attractive photos, an in-depth property description, visual tours, mapping, local school and community reports, and other information? The pictures posted online can make or break a sale. Don t let prospective buyers pass up your home because your agent has unflattering, blurry, or no pictures of your home. Many agents are slow to embracing technoloy even thought technology is what is selling homes now. Even social networking sites like Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are HUGE right now.
Choose your agent wisely by asking questions. Find out how knowledgeable they are about houses currently for sale in your price range and also of houses that have recently sold. Can your agent recommend a good lender that has the reputation of excellent customer service and low rates to assist your new buyer with financing? A good listing agent can get your house sold at TOP DOLLAR and help you find a new home.
Have questions? Need advice? Don t waste any more time, pick up the phone and call me now.
(321) 987-5400.
It s my goal to provide the very best service and advice possible for your real estate needs. If I may ever be of assistance to you, a relative, friend, or co-worker please don t hesitate to call me. I look forward to the opportunity to serve you and I appreciate your business.
Trust in me. I m worth it. I AM THE REALTOR TO DO BUSINESS WITH.
Superior Service Not just sometimes, ALL THE TIME!!
Setting the Standard for Real Estate in Brevard
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