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- Linda Strasberg, "L Strasberg"
- Contributions:2316
You were burned by a Realtor? Was there a meeting of the minds reached and a price accepted on the house you last sold when you enlisted a Realtor to sell your home? Did the transaction close?
- Joe Azzolino, "jazzolino"
- Contributions:40
You need a Realtor that is Most Familiar with your neighborhood and has had success selling there.
[content removed by moderator for being self promotional]
- Jim Paulson, "BoiseREbroker"
- Contributions:327
I know this is an old post, but the topic will live forever so I have added my two cents worth.
The top five things to look for in selecting a Realtor to sell you home include:1) Experience selling homes just like yours in your immediate area;
2) Written marketing plan tailored to fit your needs and objectives;
3) Reputation. Don't just take their word for it, if they are truely experienced in your area, ask local lenders and title companies if they have heard of this Realtor and how their experience has been.
4) Certifications. Are they a CRS, GRI, EPRO, LHMS, RELO, CRRS, SRS, etc and what do these mean to you (ask them).
5) Google them. See how effectively they market themselves before you ask them to market you! That is on the back of my new business cards "Google Me - Jim Paulson"
Best of luck!
The top five things to look for in selecting a Realtor to sell you home include:1) Experience selling homes just like yours in your immediate area;
2) Written marketing plan tailored to fit your needs and objectives;
3) Reputation. Don't just take their word for it, if they are truely experienced in your area, ask local lenders and title companies if they have heard of this Realtor and how their experience has been.
4) Certifications. Are they a CRS, GRI, EPRO, LHMS, RELO, CRRS, SRS, etc and what do these mean to you (ask them).
5) Google them. See how effectively they market themselves before you ask them to market you! That is on the back of my new business cards "Google Me - Jim Paulson"
Best of luck!
- Hank Bailey, "hankbailey"
- Contributions:1519
Sounds like you have a lot of feedback on this one already. To throw my two cents in to the mix, start out with getting referrals from people you know. Then look for a Realtor with a great deal of online presence. This means that you need to do a Google search of their names and the city in which you reside. If there names come up once or twice keep going. You are looking for pages upon pages of Google search results attached to their name and the city. This shows they are plugged in.
There are two things that sell, price and exposure. If you can get the exposure thing right and get real on price then you should be home free.
There are two things that sell, price and exposure. If you can get the exposure thing right and get real on price then you should be home free.
- real estate mike
- Contributions:2001
What's with all the open house talk? Anyone seen the stats? The only way to do an open house is to have a hot lunch and a mortgage lender with a laptop and make them buy the house, really? The past agent did not do anything but your house sold? Am I missing the logic. Maybe this agent was a poor communicator? I've had houses with accepted contracts within three days before I even had flyers out. Then sometimes it takes months of constant showings. Almost any agent who's been in business for a long period of time knows how to SELL. What to look for? References, testimonials, list of sold listings, asks lots of quality questions, is honest on how to get your house ready, has recent comps and won't try to sell yours too high, marketing plan, communication plan, knows what buyers in your market look for. Powerful negotiator with people skills. You deserve a great Realtor!
- John Stewart, "nwhome.us"
- Contributions:2166
Just one vote for FSBO?
illinifann suggests spending $40 for the book and I'll suggest spending $350 for the real estate training for the license. It is cheaper than any discount brokerage fee.
If you search the National Association of Realtors (NAR) website at realtor.org you will find another list of questions to ask as you interview Realtors. On this site they will also give you some reasons why you might want to consider a NAR member (a Realtor) for your advocate.
In humble respect to RockinBlu, he wasn't there when the code of ethics was developed for NAR in 1913, were you?. These ideas have been around for a while. I find these responses nothing less than a common perspective of an industry with a pretty good idea of what our best values are.
Do your research and talk to as many Realtors as you can about real estate and baseball, or whatever your other interests are. They don't need to be your friend but the right person will "click", as long as you don't let anyone close on you before you are ready.
illinifann suggests spending $40 for the book and I'll suggest spending $350 for the real estate training for the license. It is cheaper than any discount brokerage fee.
If you search the National Association of Realtors (NAR) website at realtor.org you will find another list of questions to ask as you interview Realtors. On this site they will also give you some reasons why you might want to consider a NAR member (a Realtor) for your advocate.
In humble respect to RockinBlu, he wasn't there when the code of ethics was developed for NAR in 1913, were you?. These ideas have been around for a while. I find these responses nothing less than a common perspective of an industry with a pretty good idea of what our best values are.
Do your research and talk to as many Realtors as you can about real estate and baseball, or whatever your other interests are. They don't need to be your friend but the right person will "click", as long as you don't let anyone close on you before you are ready.
- Maria Kernahan, "Maria Kernahan"
- Contributions:22
Sometimes the person with the most listings in town isn't the best person to represent you. Nor is the agent who suggests the highest listing price. Look for an agent that is experienced, thoughtful, knows the market, and knows HOW to market your home.
- John Wilson, "RanchandSea"
- Contributions:4
Do they think like you? How many hours will they truly be in action. Tasks performed? Staging skills, pitch skills, showing skills? Are enhanced realtor.com member ($19/mo)! Knows the area well... trails, old landslides, busy streets, neighborhood beat. 2-3 broker open houses and weekly retail open house.
- John Wilson, "RanchandSea"
- Contributions:4
Do they think like you? How many hours will they truly be in action. Tasks performed? Staging skills, pitch skills, showing skills? Are enhanced realtor.com member ($19/mo)! Knows the area well... trails, old landslides, busy streets, neighborhood beat. 2-3 broker open houses and weekly retail open house. If they complain, just say put out your signs and you'll do it twice a month.
- Hank Bailey, "hankbailey"
- Contributions:1519
Another good source is to verify your Realtor with a friend. Referrals are a great source for finding a Realtor who might do you a good job.
- Hank Bailey, "hankbailey"
- Contributions:1519
Picking on Sally for a minute, "Oh my GOD," how many times have I heard this traditional Realtor banter. Yet, some of the biggest producers, you know the one's who are actually selling property, are not camped out on association committees. "Active Realtors" would mean to these producers as actually working at meeting the public/consumers and helping them achieve their goals. They are working. I have never NEVER seen a professional group like I have with Realtors that for some reason think the way to go is to network with other Realtors. Look at Facebook. Most Realtors have Realtors as friends.
Stock brokers don't have predominately biased Facebook friend groups that are also stockbrokers. Why, because if you network with people in your same profession you have no one to sell your services to but you.
I have seen Realtors and yes Brokers, for years who were deemed by their cohorts on association committees as being so very professional, but when it came time to contracting and negotiations they were the first one's in line for being a candidate for a law suit due to "not" being so professional. Just because they network with other Realtors does not mean they know what they are doing.
Do a Google Search. If your Realtor is not on page(s) of Google results when you put in their name and city then they probably don't know how to use the web. I said page(s). You don't want them at that point.
Stock brokers don't have predominately biased Facebook friend groups that are also stockbrokers. Why, because if you network with people in your same profession you have no one to sell your services to but you.
I have seen Realtors and yes Brokers, for years who were deemed by their cohorts on association committees as being so very professional, but when it came time to contracting and negotiations they were the first one's in line for being a candidate for a law suit due to "not" being so professional. Just because they network with other Realtors does not mean they know what they are doing.
Do a Google Search. If your Realtor is not on page(s) of Google results when you put in their name and city then they probably don't know how to use the web. I said page(s). You don't want them at that point.
- Sally Sanford, "sellingstamford"
- Contributions:153
In addition to everything else listed, I would inquire about the Realtors' involvement with their local Board of Realtors. An active member of their Board is serious about their profession and regularly networks with other agents. The stronger the agent's relationship with his/her professional peers, the more exposure your house will have with local Real Estate professionals.
I'd also clarify, up front, the company's policy regarding cancelling a listing agreement.
I'd also clarify, up front, the company's policy regarding cancelling a listing agreement.
- Angela Helfrick, "ahelfrick"
- Contributions:38
Part 2:
I would ask the agent how successfully is your company compared to other companies in the area? This is important because typically the listing agent doesn't bring the buyer and you want them to have relationships with other successful Realtors who can bring you a buyer.
In addition to this question, I would ask how they will market to other Agents? According to NAR stats, 34% of buyers first learn about about the home they purchase from their agent.
Another very important thing is Internet presence. In today's market 95% of buyers use the internet to look at homes.(another NAR stat)
Ask the Agents How Many websites do you list my home on? I actually manually post my listings to over 20 sites and those sites will auto populate to so many other sites that it's hard to say how many total sites my listings show up on.
Pictures also are very important. Ask the agent it I were to look at a listing of yours online, how many pictures on average will it have? The Correct and best answer, should be that I always maximize the amount of pictures I use. They should always put in as many pictures as allowed and it is a good idea to add a virtual tour to give buyers more opportunity to see what the home looks like.
Buyers are looking for a reason to rule your house out. They have many homes to choose from and you need to win them online first and then win them again when they get to your home.
I hope this helps, feel free to contact me if you have any more questions or would like to see if I know anyone on your area.
I would ask the agent how successfully is your company compared to other companies in the area? This is important because typically the listing agent doesn't bring the buyer and you want them to have relationships with other successful Realtors who can bring you a buyer.
In addition to this question, I would ask how they will market to other Agents? According to NAR stats, 34% of buyers first learn about about the home they purchase from their agent.
Another very important thing is Internet presence. In today's market 95% of buyers use the internet to look at homes.(another NAR stat)
Ask the Agents How Many websites do you list my home on? I actually manually post my listings to over 20 sites and those sites will auto populate to so many other sites that it's hard to say how many total sites my listings show up on.
Pictures also are very important. Ask the agent it I were to look at a listing of yours online, how many pictures on average will it have? The Correct and best answer, should be that I always maximize the amount of pictures I use. They should always put in as many pictures as allowed and it is a good idea to add a virtual tour to give buyers more opportunity to see what the home looks like.
Buyers are looking for a reason to rule your house out. They have many homes to choose from and you need to win them online first and then win them again when they get to your home.
I hope this helps, feel free to contact me if you have any more questions or would like to see if I know anyone on your area.
- Angela Helfrick, "ahelfrick"
- Contributions:38
Part One:
Choosing your Listing agent is a very important decision. Choosing the wrong agent can cost you time and money.
Did you know that in Metro Atlanta 73.1% of the listings failed to sell. This is huge! Almost one in 4 homes that were listed failed to sell. This was likely due to the homes not being positioned in the market correctly.
Also of the homes that did sell throughout 2008, 50% of them needed to have the price reduced to sell.
I'm not telling you this to scare you, I am only telling you this because you can choose to work with an agent that has a lot of listings, but if that agent doesn't know the market stats, they are not going to be able to sell your home.
Ask what the Absorption rate for your area is?
How many homes are on the market in your price point?
Obviously they should be able to tell you about the most recent sales.
Choosing your Listing agent is a very important decision. Choosing the wrong agent can cost you time and money.
Did you know that in Metro Atlanta 73.1% of the listings failed to sell. This is huge! Almost one in 4 homes that were listed failed to sell. This was likely due to the homes not being positioned in the market correctly.
Also of the homes that did sell throughout 2008, 50% of them needed to have the price reduced to sell.
I'm not telling you this to scare you, I am only telling you this because you can choose to work with an agent that has a lot of listings, but if that agent doesn't know the market stats, they are not going to be able to sell your home.
Ask what the Absorption rate for your area is?
How many homes are on the market in your price point?
Obviously they should be able to tell you about the most recent sales.
- HEweddle
- Contributions:50
If the situation is good for you, try to sell it yourself. The realtors on here will blast that thought, but the reality is that many people can and do sell their homes themselves. You don't have to be a brain surgeon, go buy a book for $40 that has all the info and contracts you need. Declutter, stage, etc. I wouldn't recommend it if the value of the home being sold is like $200K, but if it is $500K, then $15 grand for their commission is steep. I have sold 3 homes that way and never had any trouble, except for dealing with licensed agents who looked down upon me. Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of good agents out there, many on this board, but the fact is that becoming a licensed real estate professional is as simple as taking about a week long online course and taking a test. There are a lot of online resources for helping you. For me the key has been open houses. No agent can do open houses like you can yourself. I host an open house 4 hours a day Sat. and Sun. for 3 weeks to sell a home.
Again, the situation must be right, but you can save a lot of money doing it yourself.
Again, the situation must be right, but you can save a lot of money doing it yourself.
- James F Phillips, "James F. Phillips"
- Contributions:4
I would welcome the opportunity to spoeak with you directly. I can promise, pledge, and deliver that nobody can out-work me on your behalf. I really work my listings instead of sitting back and waiting for some other agent to sell it for you. INstead of trying to just get more listings I work full-time promoting the ones that I have. Currently in this very difficult marketplace, I have one listing. I spend no less time trying to represent my homeowner to promote, advertise, market and SELL for the most net-in-the-pocket proceeds of the sale for the benefit of that individual homeowner. Our floor plan tool and the ability to easily email the virtual walk-thru with coplete listing details is one avenue tohelp you sell your home that is unmatched by any other company on Long Island. For example, check out http://www.coachrealtors.com/cgi-bin/detail?.State=DETAIL&mlnum=2166641&header=mlnum&login_email=
and you will see what I mean. Currently the name of the game is pricing, pricing, and pricing. The buyers are out and about with unprecedented low interest rates and in general the price of homes is down! hence it is a very good time to buy and the buyers are very savvy in finding bargains --so price your home correctly by listening to the professional! if you like what I say, please give me a call and let's talk! jphillips@coachrealtors.com
- Linda Strasberg, "L Strasberg"
- Contributions:2316
Without Buyer's Agents very few sales would take place!
- Anne Wanchic, "RealEstAgentFinder"
- Contributions:27
This is what I tell my referral clients what they should look for and find in a Realtor that is listing their property:
Seller's Resources:
- Overview of the Buying and Selling Process
- Preparing your Home Through the Eyes of a Buyer
- Repair and Cleaning Guidance
- What to do While your House is Being Shown
- Answers to Frequenty Asked Questions
And they should help you through the selling process as your house is listed, pending and through to closing.
Referral - whether by a free service or by your friends or family is always the best way to find a Realtor, in my opinion.
Best Wishes on the sale of your home,
Anne Wanchic
The Realtor Referral Assistant
Seller's Resources:
- Overview of the Buying and Selling Process
- Preparing your Home Through the Eyes of a Buyer
- Repair and Cleaning Guidance
- What to do While your House is Being Shown
- Answers to Frequenty Asked Questions
And they should help you through the selling process as your house is listed, pending and through to closing.
Referral - whether by a free service or by your friends or family is always the best way to find a Realtor, in my opinion.
Best Wishes on the sale of your home,
Anne Wanchic
The Realtor Referral Assistant
- Donna LaConte, "donnalaconte"
- Contributions:328
Find one that is LOCAL to you, it is their FULL time job, they are pro-active and productive.........creativity (thinking outside the box) can go a long way today and they communicate with you. Interview a few and go with your gut. Ask friends and family for a referral...someone that they had a positive experience with. Good luck!
- Duncan Connor, "atlantalocalrealtor"
- Contributions:33
Here's a couple of questions you might ask:
In the last year, how many homes have you sold within a mile of my house? (If they actively work your area they'll have at least one)
What amenities does my subdivision have? What are the HOA dues? (If they've done their homework they'll know)
How many listings do you currently carry? How many of them are priced to sell? (If they're not priced to sell then they won't price yours to sell, either)
How many homes have sold in my neighborhood in the last year? (it will be in their CMA, but ask anyway, then follow up with:)
How many times did you show those homes to buyers? (which will tell you how actively they're working the area)
Buy something big, cheap and ugly and which you hate. Put it somewhere prominent. If the agent doesn't tell you to move it or get rid of it, move along to the next one who will be honest with you about what buyers want.
Yes, it's a job interview, but it's as much the agent checking you out as you checking them out. They have the right to not list your home, even if you really want them to. If you're going to be unreasonable about what you need to do (with the price or the appearance), or high maintenance and high stress for a low payoff...the best agents just don't have time for that, even if you're paying them a huge commission.
- Hank Bailey, "hankbailey"
- Contributions:1519
Get a referral. Ask people you trust for the name of a Realtor that has worked with them in the past. My philosophy has always been that I work for my Sellers. I therefore have to do my job every day or they could dismiss me from the job. I do this too because I am looking for clients I can work with for years to come. This hopefully will cause people to want to refer their friends to me. If your friends give you a glowing report of a Realtor who did them a great job, you probably have your Man, or Woman.
- Louis Wolfson, "Louis Wolfson"
- Contributions:173
Simple answer - call me :)
- Nicole Tucker, "realtornicoletucker"
- Contributions:215
Hello,
When looking sell your home, interview several Realtors and then decide on which one will give you the best service. I know it is hard b/c I have been in interviews with sellers and ended up not getting to work for them and later they come back and ask if I would take thier home and sell it. Its kinda like politics- you would like to believe what they are telling you they will do but will they really do it? You just don't know until you try the decision you have made.
A few tips to help you:
Ask for a marketing plan-every realtor should have one
Ask for a list of websites the property will be advertised in
Ask for references
Ask for websites-the more the better
Ask them if they do video tours- this is the up and coming thing for marketing
Ask them if they have a You Tube site
Ask them if they are on Facebook
These are a few things that may help, it is difficult to decide- you want an aggressive realtor and a techno savy one at that as 92% of buyers go to the internet first before they even start driving or contacting a realtor.
I wish you only the best of luck!
[content removed by moderator for being self promotional]
When looking sell your home, interview several Realtors and then decide on which one will give you the best service. I know it is hard b/c I have been in interviews with sellers and ended up not getting to work for them and later they come back and ask if I would take thier home and sell it. Its kinda like politics- you would like to believe what they are telling you they will do but will they really do it? You just don't know until you try the decision you have made.
A few tips to help you:
Ask for a marketing plan-every realtor should have one
Ask for a list of websites the property will be advertised in
Ask for references
Ask for websites-the more the better
Ask them if they do video tours- this is the up and coming thing for marketing
Ask them if they have a You Tube site
Ask them if they are on Facebook
These are a few things that may help, it is difficult to decide- you want an aggressive realtor and a techno savy one at that as 92% of buyers go to the internet first before they even start driving or contacting a realtor.
I wish you only the best of luck!
[content removed by moderator for being self promotional]
- sunnyview
- Contributions:25139
Hot links to your own site are spam. Please refrain. It makes the boards cluttered and less informationally based as people focus on the promotion value and not on the OP question.
- Wayne F. Smith, "wsmith2inc31725330"
- Contributions:105
You should look for the broker who is predominent in your local area as well as the one that is trying to knock the primary off their perch.
From an agent perspective
Technology user.
Full timer
Chemistry
Average days on market of past listings compared to area average
Original asking price to selling price percentage compared to area average
Marketing plan and calendar or contractual activities compare them.
Recent past and current clients names and phone numbers...all of them not just the picked ones.
Chemistry
[content removed by moderator for being self promotional]
From an agent perspective
Technology user.
Full timer
Chemistry
Average days on market of past listings compared to area average
Original asking price to selling price percentage compared to area average
Marketing plan and calendar or contractual activities compare them.
Recent past and current clients names and phone numbers...all of them not just the picked ones.
Chemistry
[content removed by moderator for being self promotional]
- girouard property RE
- Contributions:981
ask for his/hers last 3 listings....how long it took to sell them.....did they sell close to asking? Ask for phone #s of past clients, and call them for a reference.
Something new in the SF bay area: Home owners are actually getting thier home appraised b 4 selling.
- ERICA AT PLATINUM
- Contributions:59
Interview a few agents and find one you feel comfortable with, also get CMA's compare the CMA's find someone that is willing to tell you the truth and not just what you want to hear. Also find out how they will be advertising your property.
- Patrick Beringer
- Contributions:414
As you're meeting with the agent, if he/she tells you your house is worth more than other agents, you might want to rethink working with this one. You don't want someone who's just trying to "buy a listing." Ask to see examples of his/her recent transactions as well as a list of past clients you can contact. Talking one on one with a prospective agent's past clients is a great way to get a sense of what you'll be experiencing.
- Nathan Wolf, "natewolf"
- Contributions:1825
Hiring an agent is a job. You have to think of yourself as an employer trying to find the best employee. Not every applicant is right for every job.
Likewise, not every real estate company is the same in the way they hire their agents, nor in the services they offer to their clients. You're hiring the agent and the agent' company. And not every agent or company is right for every pricepoint in the marketplace. Some specialize in certain markets. Condos, High End Estates, Waterfront, Golf Courses... and they focus their efforts into that segment of the sales.
If you're clear with your expectations, and you agree in writing with the agent / company about how you want your property presented, this will be the best possible way to achieve your goal.
Here's a Link to Ratings for REALTORS in the Greater Atlanta Area.
Likewise, not every real estate company is the same in the way they hire their agents, nor in the services they offer to their clients. You're hiring the agent and the agent' company. And not every agent or company is right for every pricepoint in the marketplace. Some specialize in certain markets. Condos, High End Estates, Waterfront, Golf Courses... and they focus their efforts into that segment of the sales.
If you're clear with your expectations, and you agree in writing with the agent / company about how you want your property presented, this will be the best possible way to achieve your goal.
Here's a Link to Ratings for REALTORS in the Greater Atlanta Area.
- David Nezri, "Direct Lender"
- Contributions:265
Reasearch who's the most active Realtor's in your area. Meet them feel them out take refrences from them. You should be OK.
Good Luck
Good Luck
what should i look for when looking for a realtor to SELL my home
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