Finding a Listing Agent

Why Do I Need a Listing Agent?

Choosing a listing agent is very important. To keep the process as stress-free as possible, you’ll want to find a listing agent who is prompt at communicating, hands-on in helping you line up contractors if needed, and patiently answers your questions every step of the way. Knowledge of the market is also key, as this will help you set the right price from the start and appeal to more buyers.

The Importance of Communication

After every showing, your listing agent should promptly request showing feedback from the buyer’s agent and report the feedback to you. This will help you gauge where your home stands in a buyer’s eyes in terms of competition. Prompt communication remains important throughout the entire process. If an offer comes in, you’ll want an agent who delivers it to you right away. Buyers can change their mind or find other houses, so you’ll want to be active as soon as the offer arrives. Communication is one of the most important factors in following a sale through to closing day.

Ask for an Agent’s Stats

When you meet with a listing agent, ask them some of the following questions:

• Do you limit how many sellers you work with at any given time?
• How often can I expect to hear from you?
• Do you have a licensed assistant that can receive an offer when you’re not available? What’s your emergency plan?
• How do you usually communicate?
• How many days does one of your houses spend on market on average?
• What is your percent sales price to list price?
• What do you charge for commission and fees?
• Are you familiar with recent sales in the area?

These are all great things to know about a listing agent. Their answers will begin setting them apart. If an agent is charging you a significantly lower commission than other agents you have interviewed, look at how they market their listings. Chances are, you’ll get what you pay for with unprofessional photos, lack of advertising and signage, and unimpressive listing brochures. Lackluster marketing equates to a longer time on the market and missed opportunities.

Access to Professionals

Real estate agents have many resources on hand to do their job well. A bonus of an experienced agent is established relationships with quality professionals who charge reasonable or even discounted prices for their services.

If you have lived in a city for a long time, you may know who the “best of the best” are. Now multiply that times 100, which is how many houses an agent may sell in a year, and that’s a lot of experience with home service providers.

Over time, an experienced real estate agent can fine-tune their list and pass this down to their sellers.

Feel free to Contact us with any questions that you may have about the process. We do this every day and would be happy to hear from you!