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Replies (10)
- sunnyview
- Contributions:25139
Welcome to Zillow, but I have to be honest. Your first post reads like a promotional piece and not information. You might want to review the policy for posting on Zillow.
I think that it might be more helpful to tell people how to interview and choose a good agent instead, but that's just my opinion.
I think that it might be more helpful to tell people how to interview and choose a good agent instead, but that's just my opinion.
- Alex Jones
- Contributions:0
I view the process to find the right listing agent in the same vein as a job interview. The top producer whose face is seen in all billboards may be tempting, but may not be the person you want because chances are you will be dealing more with his/her assistants than with the agent.
What's your style? What's your personality? What are your goals? Every agent has a different take on things, a different approach and a different way to relate to you and to potential buyers. Keep an eye out for the agent's responsiveness, communication style, friendliness, professionalism, etc.
Before I became an agent at a time when I was searching to list my home, I read a lot of information on the internet, advising me to pick the top producer in the area or the most experienced realtor. I ended up choosing a newbie who sold my house fast.
I learned a very important lesson - there is no substitute for enthusiasm and energy. I've learned that I have to be comfortable with the agent, comfortable with how the agent communicates and how I relate to him/her, not how many listings he/she has or how many millions of dollars he/she has made.
What's your style? What's your personality? What are your goals? Every agent has a different take on things, a different approach and a different way to relate to you and to potential buyers. Keep an eye out for the agent's responsiveness, communication style, friendliness, professionalism, etc.
Before I became an agent at a time when I was searching to list my home, I read a lot of information on the internet, advising me to pick the top producer in the area or the most experienced realtor. I ended up choosing a newbie who sold my house fast.
I learned a very important lesson - there is no substitute for enthusiasm and energy. I've learned that I have to be comfortable with the agent, comfortable with how the agent communicates and how I relate to him/her, not how many listings he/she has or how many millions of dollars he/she has made.
- Leonard Dunikoski, "Len Dunikoski SRES"
- Contributions:34
Above all, you have to TRUST the agent that you're working with. Trust is built by getting to know as much as you can about the person. Is the agent known for honesty, integrity and professionalism? Does he/she have expert knowledge of the specific town where the house is located?
Interview 2 or 3 realtors, ask them each to perform a free CMA (comparative market analysis) and tell them you're trying to pick a seller's agent. You'll quickly decide whether the person is the right match for you: patient or pushy? direct or evasive? treats you with respect or talks down to you?
Hope this helps!
Interview 2 or 3 realtors, ask them each to perform a free CMA (comparative market analysis) and tell them you're trying to pick a seller's agent. You'll quickly decide whether the person is the right match for you: patient or pushy? direct or evasive? treats you with respect or talks down to you?
Hope this helps!
- Marty Swingle, "MartySwingle"
- Contributions:22
Hi Rob,
Sounds like you are doing the right things to attract clients online. That's great because most of the clients I have these days have already searched for properties online, (hopefully from my website), they know the Zillow estimate of value, they are also tech savvy, which means I need to be right there with them, or they will find someone else. Well, not all of them, but you know what I mean.
You can't just say "Pick me, because I'm the best" anymore. You need to show them that you are a good fit for them, you have the enthusiasm and expertise to get things done.
I recall when I was a brand new agent and people would ask me how many homes I've sold or how long I was in the business. I would tell them that I was new, but I have the enthusiasm and desire to exceed their expectations and I could dedicate more of my time toward selling their home than an agent with 20 listings. I rarely missed the listings with that comment. But now that I have 20+ listings, I just work harder.
Sounds like you are doing the right things to attract clients online. That's great because most of the clients I have these days have already searched for properties online, (hopefully from my website), they know the Zillow estimate of value, they are also tech savvy, which means I need to be right there with them, or they will find someone else. Well, not all of them, but you know what I mean.
You can't just say "Pick me, because I'm the best" anymore. You need to show them that you are a good fit for them, you have the enthusiasm and expertise to get things done.
I recall when I was a brand new agent and people would ask me how many homes I've sold or how long I was in the business. I would tell them that I was new, but I have the enthusiasm and desire to exceed their expectations and I could dedicate more of my time toward selling their home than an agent with 20 listings. I rarely missed the listings with that comment. But now that I have 20+ listings, I just work harder.
- Joan Braunschweiger, "Morris County NJ"
- Contributions:1543
Mr. Rose, you've been a member of Zillow for well over 3 years and you either chose to ignore Zillow's policy against self-promotion or have somehow remained ignorant about it.
You are apparently new to the question and answer forum but Zillow's policy against spam and self-promotion is literally right under the reply box.
Why would you think people want to log onto a website just to have someone do such an in-your-face self promotion??
If you want to be helpful and share your expertise, THAT would be a much better advertisement for your knowledge and skills than what you just posted.
You are apparently new to the question and answer forum but Zillow's policy against spam and self-promotion is literally right under the reply box.
Why would you think people want to log onto a website just to have someone do such an in-your-face self promotion??
If you want to be helpful and share your expertise, THAT would be a much better advertisement for your knowledge and skills than what you just posted.
- wetdawgs
- Contributions:26830
What a great example of smoke and mirrors! Smoke and mirrors offers all the key phrases, but misses the meat.
- Eric Harris, "capelifehomes"
- Contributions:3
Thanks Leonard and Marty... all great advice for prospective clients
and for new agents, like myself.
and for new agents, like myself.
- Barry Sulpor, "barry sulpor"
- Contributions:67
A great way to start is to ask neighbors or friends for agent referrals. Also, go on the Internet or look in your local newspaper and see which agents have the best track record for homes sold in your area. When interviewing agents find out how involved they are not just in real estate but in the community. Do they volunteer in the schools? Local charities? Neighborhood associations? What is their marketing plan for selling your home? What does the agent feel you need to do to get your home ready to be shown? Do you like/agree with what you're hearing? How do they plan to work with you as a team to bring in potential buyers, not just local buyers but buyers from other areas who are thinking of relocating or investing in your neighborhood? How do they qualify buyers making an offer? Will they call the buyer's lender and make sure that a particular buyer is qualified? Also check out the referrals they provide. Most important, do you feel you can trust this agent to represent you on what will probably be the biggest financial transaction of your life?
- JoEllen Ufner - ABR,GRI,SFR, "jufner"
- Contributions:397
I agree with the posts below...you may want to check Zillow policies..best of luck
- Dan Malloy, "Dan Malloy"
- Contributions:286
I believe the best way to identify the agent that will most likely sell your home at a fair price in a reasonable time frame is to compare the CMA for REALTOR. Every realtor will provide a CMA for your home - they can just as easily provide one for themselves. Look to see how many homes they have sold in your area, their average days on market & list price to sales price ratio. RESULTS DON"T LIE!
How to Choose a Listing Agent/Realtor to Sell Your Property
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- 0.0/5.0
- (no reviews)
Contributions:125I have often said that people think more about what kind of bread they are going to buy than which real estate agent they hire to sell their property. Like bread, all Realtors are not alike. With over 30 years experience handling thousands of sales in Broward County, few have the expertise and experience I offer my clients. I am one of the most technologically advanced Realtors in the area and one of the highest ranked for Fort Lauderdale area real estate on the internet. (Google how to find an agent!) I don't just talk about the power of the internet for real estate sales, I make real practical use of it and I obtain real results, which is sales, for my clients. Many agents rely on smoke and mirrors, brand name franchise affiliations and assorted tricks to get your business.
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