Selling a home is an important event that most people do only a few times during their lifetime. Now that it is a sellers’ market, you might be thinking of selling your home in the DeLand area. However, even though the market is in your favor, it is not a time to take chances with what might be your biggest asset by choosing just any agent. To get the most out of your home sale during this crazy time, you need to know how to pick a knowledgeable agent. Here are some of the best ways to choose a real estate agent to sell your home.
First Things First – Don’t Make These Mistakes
Before delving into how to choose your real estate agent, let’s first discuss what you should not base your decision on. One of the biggest mistakes people make when choosing their agent is basing it on these two factors:
- The realtor who is willing to list your home at the highest price
- The realtor who is willing to accept the lowest commission
Of course, you want the highest price for your home. You also want to keep as much of the proceeds from the sale in your pocket too. But these two factors do not necessarily mean that the agent is competent, or your home will actually sell for that highest price, even if it is a sellers’ market.
It is important to remember that a listing agent cannot tell you exactly how much your home will go for. What they can do, however, is show you comparisons of other homes sold in your area, homes currently under contract, and active sales. An agent can suggest a range of prices for your home to attract buyers based on available market data and market temperature. But ultimately, it is up to you to choose your sales price, and the feedback from potential buyers may call for a price adjustment.
Now let’s address the other elephant in the room: commission rates. Like anything in this world, you get what you pay for. There is usually a reason why a real estate agent would offer to discount their commission. It could be that they are doing it to succeed against their competition. However, if the only advantage to hiring an agent is that they offer the lowest commission, you should wonder why, unless:
- The agent will be handling the sale of your home and the purchase of your new one.
- You are selling more than one property
- You are doing all the legwork and paying for expenses on your own for advertising and marketing your home
- You do not have enough home equity to pay a normal commission rate
- The agent is matching a competitor’s fee
Characteristics Most Sellers Look for in a Real Estate Agent
When shopping for a real estate agent to sell your home, there are several common characteristics that many sellers look for:
- Experience – Yes, everyone has to start somewhere, but if you are selling a home, you want an agent that has sold many homes before and knows what the ins and outs are in real estate.
- Trustworthiness – Does the agent seem sincere? Remember, you will need to work with this person for the next few months. If something seems off, trust your gut.
- Effective Communicator – You want a realtor that is a good communicator and available to answer your questions and concerns regarding selling your home. If the agent seems lacking in this area, you may want to continue looking.
- Networks with Other Agents – Selling homes is a people business. Agents networking with other agents help get homes sold.
- Good Negotiator – Yes, you want an agent that is a good negotiator. You want one that is willing to aggressively negotiate with the buyer and their agent instead of trying to settle for the quick sale that hurts your profit.
Evaluate Selling Agent’s Marketing Plan
Selling a home the right way requires a lot of marketing. When evaluating a listing agent, ask to see a complete copy of their marketing plan. Specifically, ask what their plan is for selling your home.
At a minimum, your listing agent should provide:
- Staging advice before your home is shown
- A lockbox for your door
- Follow-ups on showings and feedback from buyers
- Broker previews
- Targeted digital marketing
- Exposure with listing on MLS
- Providing updated comparative market analysis (CMA)
- Two open houses
- Virtual tour options
- Distributing listing to major real estate websites
- Providing feedback to the seller after buyer sign calls and buyer showings
Before signing a contract with a real estate agent, ask them for their personal guarantee that they will do what they said they would do. And if they won’t agree to release you from your contract upon your request, do not sign with them.
So Why Should You Choose Palmetto Realty?
You may be asking yourself why you should trust the sale of your home to a Palmetto Realty agent. We are committed to helping you make your next big move. Our agents are focused, connected, and highly engaged in the DeLand market. Our agents take the time to evaluate your needs, perform a thorough analysis, and provide recommendations based on our research. Contact us today to discuss selling your home.