The decision to sell a home is a major one, and the process can be really involved. With such an important endeavor, it’s integral that you find the right real estate agent for the job.
When you make the decision that the time has come to sell your home, begin looking for a real estate agent by asking for recommendations from friends, neighbors, acquaintances, and family members. People that you know can be an excellent resource because they are likely to be very honest with you about their own experiences and impressions. If you do not have anyone to ask, you may want to call various real estate offices and speak to the manager of the office. Explain your situation to the manager, and ask if he or she has any specific recommendations about agents in his or her office that would be a good fit for your particular needs.
Doing research on the office that an agent works for is a good way to begin your vetting process while looking for a real estate agent. Be aware of your own expectations and needs, and pick companies that will line up with those needs. For example, do you want an office that is open seven days a week, or will five suffice? Or, is it important to you that your agent be part of a network of agents that share listings? If so, research companies that have that quality.
When you have found an agent that you would like to consider working with, invite him or her to your home. This meeting is as much about letting the agent know your needs as it is about evaluating whether or not you will be a good personality fit for one another. You will be spending a lot of time with your real estate agent, and it’s important that you feel comfortable with him or her.
At the meeting, present the real estate agent with some facts about your home. You should prepare this in advance. Be sure to list the home’s best feature, and anything you think is a selling point that might not be obvious. Your agent will use this list of facts and ideas to craft a dynamic listing that will sell your home.
In this interview, you may ask the agent how he or she would go about marketing your home, and what tools he or she would employ to price the home. Through this conversation, you should get a good idea of your ease of working with this particular agent. If you aren’t feeling comfortable or enthusiastic about him or her, it’s time to meet with another agent.
Interview agents until you find one that you feel comfortable committing to work with. The process of attaching a real estate agent to a property can be time consuming for both the homeowner and the real estate agent. Once you pick an agent, you are going to want to stick with him or her.