How to find a realtor that will look after YOU when selling your home

How to find a realtor who will look after YOU when selling your home

Although you can sell your home by yourself, appointing a professional real estate agent will save you a lot of time, money and stress. It is important that you are comfortable with the professional real estate agent you select because you are trusting him to negotiate the best possible deal for you.

But how do you know who to trust?

Choosing the right realtor is like entering a business partnership. It involves mutual trust and open communication. Selling your home may be the most stressful decision you ever face!

There is no real way of knowing which professional real estate agent will be best for you, however there are a few things that you should look for in your early discussions with potential agents:

Open communication

You want someone you can talk to easily and freely. Someone who will listen to what you want, and shows that he understands by asking questions about you, your family and your lifestyle.

Availability

You want someone who is going to help you from beginning to end… someone who is always available to answer your questions and walk you through the necessary steps.

Professional knowledge

You want someone who can show you he is knowledgeable about property matters generally, and the local property market specifically. In early discussions, you should ask about his experience and local knowledge, and sales philosophy.

Education

Educating the home seller is perhaps the most important role a seller’s agent should fulfill (apart from actually finding a purchaser for your home at the best price). It is very important that you, as the home seller, understand exactly what is going on. If your agent does not appear to be interested in helping you understand, maybe he is the wrong agent.

Professional experience

This is a hard one. Years of experience in the real estate field can make a significant difference to the results you will get, but it should be remembered that someone new to the field could be more enthusiastic and work harder for you.

It all comes down to this. You have to find a realtor who you are very comfortable with, and who displays enough knowledge and aggression to get the job done.

When you find an agent you are comfortable with, and who meets all the other criteria… be loyal and stay with him. Allow him to do what he does best, and don’t undermine him by calling around to other realtor’s offices. Give him a chance to find you the purchaser at the best price… after all… that IS his job!

A good way of finding realtors is to talk with friends and family, or to contact the local association of realtors for their recommendation.

Here are some questions you should ask a professional realtor before appointing him or her as your selling agent:

How long have you been licensed?

How long have you actively worked in this market area?

How many home sales have you closed in the last 3 months?

Do you work full time as a real estate professional?

Can you give me the names of three references whose homes you have sold
recently?

How will you work to actively seek buyers for my home?

Will you participate in a cooperative listing service?

What is the average number of days on the market for your listings?

What is your ratio of list price to sales price?

What is your professional fee?

The degree of honesty in answering these questions will give you as much guidance in determining if this is the right agent for you as the answers themselves. Do not be scared to give a relatively new agent a chance – he or she will be keen and usually well supported by experienced realtors in the office. Make your decision on whether YOU believe you can work with this agent!

Of course, if you are interested in buying in the Antelope Valley, our team at AV HomeConsultants would love to have the opportunity to discuss your needs. If you are looking for a realtor outside of this Valley, we would be more than pleased to make some recommendations. Just contact us and give us some details and we'll do all the rest.