So, after waiting for the most beneficial market conditions and calculating all the expenses you’re going to face, you’ve finally decided to sell your home. While you might think that you’ve already gotten over the biggest hurdle, the next step in selling your property is going to be a lot harder, and a lot more crucial.
Finding the right real estate agent for your goals is, without a doubt, the most challenging part of the home sale process, with so many factors relying on the experience and expertise of your agent and the quality of your agent’s work. After all, without a professional to carry out extensive market analysis and help you set the best price for your house, you’re unlikely to walk away from a sale with a great buyer and an even greater profit!
If you still don’t know what to look for in a real estate agent and want to maximize your chances of selling quickly and stress-free, this is the guide for you.
What is the job of a real estate agent?
The first thing you should keep in mind is that not all real estate agents are created equal, and not all agents are just as well-versed in helping sellers as they are with helping buyers. In fact, there are usually two types of agents you’ll come across: buyer’s agents and listing agents. While a buyer’s agent will help buyers find their dream home, a listing agent will support sellers by not only marketing the property but also by figuring out the property’s worth and setting an appropriate asking price.
Listing agents are also responsible for negotiating with buyers, acting in their best interests to secure a higher price, and for reducing all selling-related expenses. All real estate agents can and usually do perform both roles, however, you should always make sure that your chosen realtor has a strong track record for the role you want them to play.
What makes a good real estate agent?
So, what should you look for in a real estate agent, and in this case, in a listing agent specifically? Before you start with the interview, the first question you should ask yourself when vetting potential professionals is whether they fit the bill for what a good real estate agent should be. A great real estate agent will always act in your best interests rather than cutting corners and accepting bad deals for the sake of an easier paycheck.
By the same token, they will also be honest and straightforward with you throughout the process, even if it means giving you a piece of bad news — including letting you know that it is not the right time to sell. Of course, a trustworthy real estate agent will also be knowledgeable of the local market and know how to navigate it from the inside out, changing their approach according to current trends and different time frames.
Finally, good communication is key. No matter how experienced and knowledgeable your agent might be, you may end up not benefitting from any of their expertise if they lack the communications skills to share their insights with you in an accessible, easy-to-understand way.
How to pick the right real estate agent for your needs
Knowing what makes for a good agent will help you vet potential hires and avoid wasting time scouring online profiles in search of the perfect fit. However, just knowing what the ideal agent looks like doesn’t necessarily mean that you’ll have an easier time picking the best fit from a long list of agents with the same talents and experience.
The key is to find a good fit for your unique situation, taking into account all your needs and goals rather than blindly trusting word-of-mouth recommendations. So, here’s what to look for in a real estate agent to ensure your needs are fully taken care of!
Focus on building a sincere relationship
The first step in finding the perfect match is to trust your instincts and go for an agent you can have a good relationship with. Some believe that having authentic chemistry between seller and agent is even more important than having an agent with impressive credentials and experience.
This is because the two parties will be working closely alongside each other throughout a pretty lengthy process, so getting along and being on the same page for all matters related to the sale is essential. If your gut feeling is pointing you toward one specific agent after researching and interviewing potential agents to work with, they might just be what you were looking for all along!
Look for a clear track record and referrals
While finding someone you can build a trust-based and authentic relationship with can help you pick between two agents with very similar backgrounds, looking at your real estate professional’s track record and previous experience is absolutely essential for your very first shortlist. It goes without saying that agents with more experience in the field, and even more importantly, a proven track record of successfully aiding sales in your local area, should be your first choice.
Referrals are also useful. According to Zillow research, more than one in five sellers find their agent because of a referral from someone close to them. But be careful not to trust the opinion of a friend or relative blindly, as what has worked for them might not necessarily work for your property and market too.
You should instead consider referrals as an added bonus and possibly make sure to ask potential agents for references themselves, so you can get an idea of what working with them is truly like and what results you can expect, reading about the experience of past clients.
And on that note…
Asking the right questions
The most crucial tip we can give you for interviewing potential hires is to use your time right and ask them the right questions. We’re not just talking about essential questions related to their experience and years of working in the real estate business but also more specific questions related to your unique selling scenario.
- Have they dealt with a similar property before and thoroughly researched your local market?
- Do they have a draft plan for how to market your listing and approach the current housing market?
- How have they dealt with tough buyer/seller negotiations before?
- What did they sell the last house they have worked with for?
These are all great examples of useful questions you can ask to get a better idea of your agent’s reasoning and methodology, and it will paint a much clearer picture of what results you can expect compared to simply asking for a resume!
Vet their honesty and sensibility
When considering what to look for in a real estate agent, you’ll want to place special importance on the way they reason, their honesty, and sensibility.In short, this means that you should look for agents who are comfortable with telling uncomfortable truths, valuing honesty above all else even if it means the sale might not go through. You’ll also want to look for agents who are sensible with their choices and pragmatic in their reasoning, talents that you can easily gauge by asking some of the questions we’ve listed earlier.
As your interviewee walks you through their thought process answering your questions and drafting up concrete plans for sale and negotiation, you’ll be able to vet their problem-solving abilities and decide what approach would work best for your situation. Wondering how many potential agents should you interview before you make your choice? At least three agents seems to be the golden rule!
Expect great communication
Finally, the last thing you should look for in a real estate agent is great communications skills, or at least, remarkable openness when it comes to meeting your preferences and expectations of professional communication. This serves two purposes. On one hand, great communicators are able to make their ideas more accessible to you and prevent misunderstandings while, on the other hand, they can also do a more effective job keeping a productive dialogue between all parties involved in the sale.
The perfect match will also use the tools and methods you prefer for keeping the conversation going, whether you’re looking for constant email updates on listing leads and negotiations or whether you’re only looking for a written account of the next steps to take.
Why choose our real estate agents?
Picking the right agent for your needs is a time-consuming job, and if you’re in a time crunch or simply want to save more money, you might want to sell your property independently or get in touch with a cash buyer. There are many excellent reasons, however, why you should hire a real estate agent to assist you in this important undertaking.
The interview process will put your sale plans on hold for a short while, but it will also guarantee that you’ll get the best service possible with fewer headaches, with larger profits to follow. If you’re looking for a place to start and a list of highly qualified and experienced realtors to choose from, we’ve got just the thing to kickstart your journey with full peace of mind! Contact one of our amazing real estate agents today and maximize your opportunities in the current real estate market.
With the extensive contact networks we have developed through the many national and international organizations we’ve worked with, as well as our current and past clients, we will employ the most effective marketing and advertising strategies for your property. We will also guide you through the complicated paperwork involved, from the initial agreement to the final documents, so you will know well in advance how to prepare to sell. If you want a friendly, available, full-time agent who is familiar with your area and with the type of property you intend to sell — we have a long list of experienced professionals who will walk you through the entire process.
Get in touch today and get ready to sell!
