How To Select A Real Estate Agent For Your House Sale

 

To sell their home, most homeowners will turn to a professional real estate agent. There are over a million real estate agents in the country. How can you choose one? Most home sellers will either ask for referrals from their friends and family or call the agent who originally sold them their home. Some people will choose to work with an agent that keeps in touch via neighborhood Real Estate Agents In Sedona, Az marketing. Others will choose a name brokerage and call the agent they know. These are all good options, but there are things you can do that will help you choose a brokerage and an agent.

Select a Real Estate Brokerage That:

• Properly licensed and in good standing within the state. It is easy to do this by calling or visiting the appropriate website. The Real Estate Division or Department of Real Estate is the name of the department that licenses, regulates and supervises the real-estate industry in your state.
• Belongs to the local Association of Realtors or the local Multiple Listing Service.
• Specializes on residential home sales.

Select a Real Estate Agent Who:

 

 

• Part-time in the realty business.
• You are a Realtor and a member in good standing of the MLS.
• Experienced in residential home selling.
• Demonstrates market knowledge and competence.

Once you have established that a brokerage or agent is fully licensed, competent, and qualified to serve your needs, it's time to decide how much to pay them. The following information will help you understand the process of making this decision.

 

MYTH - Bigger is Better

Many home sellers assume that if they keep a large brokerage, all of the agents will be trying to sell the home. An agent is unlikely to be motivated to sell a property listed by another agent. Agents rely on the MLS for information regarding homes for sale. They are more than happy to show and/or sell homes listed outside their brokerage.

The MLS levelizes the playing field. So don't fret about the size of your brokerage. You should instead focus on the strengths of each agent.

A common mistake that many home sellers do not realize is the fact smaller brokerages tend to be made up of more experienced agents. While many new agents begin their careers at large brokerages and experienced agents leave to start their own brokerages, there are many opportunities for them.

MYTH = Brand Name = More Advertising

No matter how large the brokerage, marketing individual homes is usually paid for by their listing agent. It's been proven repeatedly that yard signs, the Internet, and the MLS are the best marketing tools. This is what home buyers use to find homes. Any agent can offer these marketing tools.

It is important to question whether the brokerage that you hire is spending large amounts of money on billboards, TV ads, and park benches. Do they want to sell your home? Or are they just trying to attract more business and justify their high fees.

MYTH. You have to pay a high commission

Agents who charge high commissions want homeowners to believe that they need to pay six- or seven percent to sell their house in this market.

It is true that there are many other options than paying such high commissions. Full-service discount brokerages can be found for as little as a few thousand dollars. A full-service discount brokerage offers home sellers all of their services without the high commission.

Some real estate companies offer lower fees because they provide lower service. These are ideal for home sellers who can take on the responsibility of showing the home and taking calls. Only a few hundred dollars can be charged for these services.

Home sellers can save thousands by looking into these companies.

MYTH - You Get What You Pay

Real estate agents often charge the same high-level commissions, but home sellers won't find the same level of service. You might get a less experienced, younger agent from a big brokerage. They may not have the same experience, negotiation skills or marketing budget as an experienced agent. While they may not have the same level of experience, negotiating skills and marketing budget as seasoned agents, they still want the same commission. While they will still do a great job, and may even succeed, you don't get the same return (i.e. What you get for your money is not the same as hiring a top producing agent.

It is not difficult to find top-producing agents working for discount brokerages. They have realized that they can make more money by charging home sellers lower fees while still providing full-service. The home seller is happy because they save money and receive full-service.