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How to choose a great real estate agent
Are you looking for a smaller property now that the family has all grown up? Perhaps you are downsizing after a divorce or a change of circumstances. Well, you couldn’t have picked a better time to sell your biggest asset. House prices are rocketing at the moment, and demand is strong. You could make a tidy profit by selling now and moving into a smaller or less expensive property. So how should you choose a real estate agent to sell your house? There are so many real estate companies out there; what should you be looking for, and how can you find it?
Word of mouth recommendation: All companies sound amazing in their own advertising and business directories, but nothing beats an excellent recommendation from a trusted friend. Ask around to see if anyone that you know has had a great experience when selling their house. This tactic is a great way to find out about the terrible agents in town too! Please don’t be shy about asking a potential agent to give you references either, and be sure to follow them up. The sale of your house is too important to entrust it to someone you know very little about.
Local knowledge: Make sure that potential realtors have outstanding local knowledge. Have they sold similar properties before? They should know all about the good points of your house and its location. They need to talk to prospective buyers about how great local schools and sports facilities are. Nearby beauty spots and the fabulous coffee shop around the corner are all of interest to people buying a house, so they need to know about them!.
A brilliant sales plan: Check out the way that agents market other properties. Do they use great photography, are their property details professionally written and produced? Are their ‘For Sale’ notices well-made and impressive? Your real estate agent should be using online selling with virtual tours of properties for potential buyers who live a long distance away or prefer to view remotely.
Sales skills: Turn things around and ask yourself if you would buy a house from this person? Do they seem trustworthy and honest? Do they have the excellent communication skills, good manners, and air of confidence that would persuade you to seal the deal with them? All the other great stuff is beside the point if the agent themselves is an unimpressive communicator or gives the wrong impression through poor personal presentation or tardiness. For the same reason, you need to check that their office is tidy and clean and that their employees are personable and well-informed. Be a little sneaky. Ring their offices and see if you are impressed by the way that they answer the phone!
Cost: Finally, how much are they going to charge you? Most real estate agents charge a commission of 5 to 6 percent of the sale price. That’s a hefty chunk of your profit, so make sure that they work for it and realize a great price for you!