Selling a house can be a complicated experience whether you’re a first-time seller or have done it in the past. And to avoid struggling at it alone, you have the option of contacting a listing agent who tends to be extremely valuable in finding interested buyers.
There are several reasons why you may need a listing agent. One reason is that they have experience with the home selling process. And if you are a first-time seller who doesn’t know the local market, real estate agents will help by breaking down all the steps involved in this.
Additionally, a listing agent will help you with everything needed for a successful sale. These include helping with staging, organizing open houses, evaluating offers, and developing pricing strategies.
With all the benefits that listing agents offer, getting a trusted one is vital. And if you are not sure how to pick a listing agent to sell your home, this article discusses some crucial ways. Read on for this insight.
Compare Real Estate Agents Online
When looking for anything nowadays, the one-stop shop has to be online. The most efficient way of finding out about real estate agents is by searching for vetted agents using a local agent finder tool. You can click here to find out more about such a tool and its benefits.
Once you have located agents in your area, find your top choices and compare their reviews and the number of homes successfully sold. These tools may also analyze all the agents and consider their specialties, certification, years of experience, and successful home sales.
Comparing real estate agents online also helps one observe how they market themselves professionally, which goes a long way to showing you their personality. You may learn their positive qualities by looking at how the agent responds to the negative reviews.
Find Referrals From A Good Source
Most sellers can confirm that they were able to find their agent from friends and family referrals. So, if you are looking for a reliable listing agent, get your trusted family and friends to give you the contact of someone who worked on a successful sale. That is if they know any or have had their home sold before. Get as many referrals as you can and then search their background before deciding.
Identify Relevant Certifications
When searching for real estate agents, ensure that your selection consists of those with an active real estate license. You can check when the license was given and whether there are any temporary suspensions.
When identifying relevant certification, try and look for agents with extra training that may specialize in a specific kind of transaction type. For instance, if you want a more qualified agent, you can go for Certified Residential Specialists, who have undergone a refresher course.
And if you are from a military family and in need of relocation, consider reaching out to an agent with Military Relocation Professional training. On the other hand, if you want to protect your interests during all the transactions, find an agent who obtained a Seller Representative Specialist certification.
Interview Several Agents
So, with your top choices ready, interview all your agents by setting an appointment with them. And this helps as you can get answers to your important questions, which will shed light on their work ethic. So, when looking for a real estate agent, avoid settling on the first one and meet several others.
Some vital questions to ask may include the number of years they have been working in real estate and if they primarily work with sellers. Additionally, ask them how many active clients they have and whether they are prepared to handle the different unique situations.
You should also ensure that the agent knows the area well and what it might take to compete for buyers’ attention. And most importantly, you should also get his cost of services that covers everything ranging from moving to staging.
Filter Agents With Red Flags
Telltale signs show that an agent might not be a great fit, and spotting the red flags is vital. For instance, when looking at agents, ensure that they don’t have limited sales and uncertain results and have completed several transactions.
Other red flags may include the agent having mediocre marketing skills, real estate being a side hustle, unfamiliarity with the market, being a shaky negotiator, offering half-truths, and many more.
Bottom Line
Having the services of a listing agent is a good way of easing the burden of selling your home, thanks to their expertise. However, choosing an agent isn’t an easy process, and you may have several factors to consider.
So before settling on an agent, ensure that they are compatible with you and know the market well. Take your time looking for and selecting a listing agent to avoid having issues during selling.