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Replies (9)
- Alan May
- Contributions:4377
If you call each of the major offices in your area... ask for the managing broker, and ask him/her to tell you who is their top lister (of properties that have sold this year)... they will happily share that with you...
- Chickie55
- Contributions:34
Thanks Elvis.....
Can you tell me which major companies are out there besides Keller Williams, Coldwell Bankers, Keyes, EWM? I want to make sure I cover all bases.
Can you tell me which major companies are out there besides Keller Williams, Coldwell Bankers, Keyes, EWM? I want to make sure I cover all bases.
- Rate A Home
- Contributions:125
Chickie, you may want to check with the local Realtors Association, they may provide you with the reports needed.
- Alan May
- Contributions:4377
Coldwell Banker, ERA, ReMax, Century21...
don't overlook local agencies, who may be just as strong in your area... national is not always better!
don't overlook local agencies, who may be just as strong in your area... national is not always better!
- Charlie Mader, "chasmader"
- Contributions:309
Be sure to interview three Realtors and call thier references!
- Alan May
- Contributions:4377
I haven't found references to be of much value...
after all, I'm certainly not going to give out the names of people who don't think I did a stellar job... right?
after all, I'm certainly not going to give out the names of people who don't think I did a stellar job... right?
- Robin Lynch, "robin398"
- Contributions:1935
Don't hire an agent who will give you the highest price for your home. You, the seller, choose the listing price and the buyer will tell you if the price is right. Just to get the listing, agents will lie about the price. Since realtors can't give you a guaranteed listing price, the listing agent who wants to list at the highest price is probably dishonest. You want a listing agent to give you a price range. There are many aspects that determine the price range which include location, the temperature of the market and upgrades or improvements. If your home is priced too high then you probably won't get any showings; buyers will stay away from your home and in the end you will have to reduce the price of your house which leads potential buyers into thinking what is wrong with your home. There is a reason why an agent will discount their commission. Sometimes full service realtors will work for a lower commission for the following reasons. You are buying and selling a house concurrently and will allow the agent to undertake both transactions. You are willing to do all the work which includes marketing, advertising and other ancillary expenses related to selling your home. If you plan on interviewing agents who offer similar services and can't make a choice then ask to see a portfolio of each realtor's original price list and final listing prices. What you minimally can expect from an agent is use of a lockbox, feedback reports of buyer showings to the seller, advice on home staging, exposure on the MLS with 8-12 professional pictures, a virtual tour, at least 2 open houses, feedback that includes which potential buyers called per the for sale sign in your yard, just to name a few.
- Billy Runyan, "billrunyan"
- Contributions:196
When you are interviewing agents, here are the things I would ask, in addition to the usual questions:
• Do you have a current hits report on your web site each month? How does that compare to your competitors’ sites?
• Where does the company’s and agent site rank in the area?
• Does your company use pay per click advertising?
• What else is your company doing to direct traffic to its site?
• How many inquiries does your site generate per month?
• How does your company track inquiries?
• Who would be following up on an e-inquiry about my home and how quickly would they do it?
• How will my home be displayed on your web site?
• How many pictures will there be? When will they be posted?
• Will they be updated if the seasons change?
• Will there be a virtual tour? When will it be up?
• Will it be on Realtor.com? Will it be an “enhanced” ad?
• How many personal web sites do you operate? How long have you had the sites? How does it do in attracting buyers compared to other agent web sites? What do you do to make sure that your web site is effective?
• When was the last time you added something to your personal website besides new listings?
• Does your company have a national (international) web site where my home will be displayed?
Will your home be on Point to Homes / wwpoint2homes.com
base.google.com / realestate.yahoo.com / oodle.com / trulia.com /livedeal.com, CityCribs.com / vast.com / www.edgeio.com /www.propsmart.com / www.realestateadvisor.com / TheHousingPages.com
VideoHomes.com / House.com /PropBot.com / www.homescape.com
Clickable Directories, Inc. / WorldWide-RealEstate-ForSale.com /
HotPads.com / CLR Search?
If the agent you are interviewing cannot answer most of these questions, move on! Today’s buyer is looking on the internet for his next home, and your positioning here is critical if you want people to see your home... period!
• Do you have a current hits report on your web site each month? How does that compare to your competitors’ sites?
• Where does the company’s and agent site rank in the area?
• Does your company use pay per click advertising?
• What else is your company doing to direct traffic to its site?
• How many inquiries does your site generate per month?
• How does your company track inquiries?
• Who would be following up on an e-inquiry about my home and how quickly would they do it?
• How will my home be displayed on your web site?
• How many pictures will there be? When will they be posted?
• Will they be updated if the seasons change?
• Will there be a virtual tour? When will it be up?
• Will it be on Realtor.com? Will it be an “enhanced” ad?
• How many personal web sites do you operate? How long have you had the sites? How does it do in attracting buyers compared to other agent web sites? What do you do to make sure that your web site is effective?
• When was the last time you added something to your personal website besides new listings?
• Does your company have a national (international) web site where my home will be displayed?
Will your home be on Point to Homes / wwpoint2homes.com
base.google.com / realestate.yahoo.com / oodle.com / trulia.com /livedeal.com, CityCribs.com / vast.com / www.edgeio.com /www.propsmart.com / www.realestateadvisor.com / TheHousingPages.com
VideoHomes.com / House.com /PropBot.com / www.homescape.com
Clickable Directories, Inc. / WorldWide-RealEstate-ForSale.com /
HotPads.com / CLR Search?
If the agent you are interviewing cannot answer most of these questions, move on! Today’s buyer is looking on the internet for his next home, and your positioning here is critical if you want people to see your home... period!
- Javier Varon, "JavierVaron"
- Contributions:94
Do you really want the best agent? Let the listing expire and interview the agents who got up early that morning like professional sales peope to find business vs waiting for business to come to them.
Talk to everyone that calls YOU. Feel them out and try to determine whether they sound competent or not. You will have two kinds of agents calling. The pros who do a lot of business, those on their way up to being a top producer, and those who are "trying out" the prospecting thing.
Set up a few interviews and see who can answer your questions without fear of what you will think or say. Who has the courage to tell you you are overpriced or that your house is dirty or whatever... and who is strong enough to close you regardless of their place in the order of interviews.
I've always felt that the way an agent gets his business is similar to how they will work to sell your home. Are they aggressively searching for business or are they sitting back and waiting for it.
If you really want to know who the top producer is DO NOT call the broker. Think about it... The broker is just going to give the name and number of their top producer. But their top producer may not be much of a sales person if the company is small or not very productive.
What you want to do is call a local title company and ask to speak to a title rep. Then tell her that you would like to offer your business to them if they could pull an "mta" report of your area and let you know what agent sold the most listings. The "mta" will have the top producer from ALL companies. Through my connections I get those reports, and I have to tell you, it is funny how many of the REAL top producers are folks you've never heard of and are at no name hole-in-the-wall companies.
You find a real top producer and all the "interview" questions are really irrelevant because they will know how to sell the house.
Talk to everyone that calls YOU. Feel them out and try to determine whether they sound competent or not. You will have two kinds of agents calling. The pros who do a lot of business, those on their way up to being a top producer, and those who are "trying out" the prospecting thing.
Set up a few interviews and see who can answer your questions without fear of what you will think or say. Who has the courage to tell you you are overpriced or that your house is dirty or whatever... and who is strong enough to close you regardless of their place in the order of interviews.
I've always felt that the way an agent gets his business is similar to how they will work to sell your home. Are they aggressively searching for business or are they sitting back and waiting for it.
If you really want to know who the top producer is DO NOT call the broker. Think about it... The broker is just going to give the name and number of their top producer. But their top producer may not be much of a sales person if the company is small or not very productive.
What you want to do is call a local title company and ask to speak to a title rep. Then tell her that you would like to offer your business to them if they could pull an "mta" report of your area and let you know what agent sold the most listings. The "mta" will have the top producer from ALL companies. Through my connections I get those reports, and I have to tell you, it is funny how many of the REAL top producers are folks you've never heard of and are at no name hole-in-the-wall companies.
You find a real top producer and all the "interview" questions are really irrelevant because they will know how to sell the house.
How Do You Find The Best Agent For Your Area
I am in Miami, FL in an area called the Redland. Does anyone know? It is north of Homestead, FL.
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