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Selecting a Real Estate Agent to
Sell
Your Home
by Stephen Daniels
When you decide to sell your home, there are several
important decisions you must make. The first, most important decision is whether
or not you will try to market on your own, or if you will elect to list the
property with a real estate agent.
If you sell your home without professional assistance, you must do your own
advertising, and of course you must show it yourself, conduct negotiations with
potential buyers, research comparable listings and prior sales, and handle the
required documentation. If you are unfamiliar with any of these processes, you
could be doing yourself a disservice. In addition, you will have strangers
walking through your house who may not be qualified buyers because they will not
have been pre-screened by a professional.
Real estate agents are trained to screen their clients prior to showing them
houses for sale. They do not take their clients to every home on the market, but
limit searches to homes in the right price range that have the amenities their
clients are seeking. Often when they see a home listed for sale, they will
contact the listing agent to ensure that the home would be a good fit for the
potential buyer. This is where your broker will assist you in pre-screening,
eliminating all the "lookie-loos" out there who have no interest or intention of
buying your home.
How should you decide which real estate broker to hire once you have decided
to go that route? Many people will choose to hire a friend or relative to sell
their home believing the prior relationship will guarantee better service.
Before you do this, remember the old adage "be careful about doing business with
friends or relatives."
Before you sign a contract with any broker, it is wise to get referrals from
friends, relatives, or recent home sellers. Invite several brokers to see your
house, compare their marketing plans, and suggested listing prices.
Ask to see a comparative market analysis (CMA) to evaluate the suggested
listing prices you hear. Remember that a realistic asking price is more likely
to get your house sold more quickly, so don't select your listing agent based
solely on the suggested sales price. It is good to interview several people
before you make a decision.
Some people believe that brokers who have many years in the business will
provide the best service. While this is often true, be sure to ask if your
broker will actually be handling your sale personally, or will your home sale be
turned over to a less experienced team.
The internet has become a huge source of advertising for many real estate
professionals. Make sure that the person or company you select is not only a
member of a multiple listing service (MLS), but will also use some of the
multitude of other internet sites available, such as social networking sites
like Facebook or Twitter, and alternative listing sites such as Craigslist and
Trulia.
Discuss the marketing plan. Generally you should expect bold signage in
front of your home as well as at important cross streets, advertising as listed
above, good photos and virtual tours at least on the MLS listing, and hosted
open houses to generate interest.
Don't be offended if your broker suggests repairs or clean up to help your
house become more appealing to buyers. Some repairs are inexpensive, such as
painting, but can help your home show better to prospective buyers who are
seeking turn-key purchases.
Last, but certainly not least, discuss the commission expected from each
prospective professional. Commissions can vary from as little as 1% to 7%
depending on services provided and the broker's agency affiliation agreement.
Sometimes you can negotiate a better rate for fewer services, but a top real
estate agent may be worth the commission he asks so balance your concerns
carefully. Of special importance here is the agent commission split. Make sure
that the commission that will be paid to the buyers' broker is high enough so
your house will actually be shown by other real estate professionals.
In the South New Jersey area, if you are searching
for a real estate agent to sell your home, contact the
Ray Moorhouse Group
. With over 25 years of collective experience and $174 million in
settled transactions, they can guide you through every step of a successful home
sale. Distributed by
SEO 2.0 Services
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