Choosing an agent to sell your home can be a difficult decision, particularly if you’ve not sold a property before or are unfamiliar with real estate agents in your area. Given your property is likely to be one of your biggest assets you’ll want to be confident it’s in good hands when it comes time to sell.
Here’s what you need to know before choosing an agent to sell your home:
Research
As soon as you start to think about selling, it’s time to become a super sleuth. The internet has made it much easier to shortlist potential candidates, offering a wealth of information at your fingertips. Sites such as Rate My Agent list the top performing agents and agencies within your suburb, based on vendor ratings and testimonials. There are also numerous sites that show properties currently for sale and sold properties so look at recent sales in your area, in the price point that you’re hoping to achieve. You may be surprised to find that the agent selling units at premium prices is not the same agent who’s selling large family homes. Once you have narrowed things down, it’s a great idea to go and see them working in the field. Attend their open for inspections, and if looking to auction your home, watch them live in action and see how they handle themselves. You’ll gain a lot of insight through this process.
Ask the right questions
Meeting face-to-face with a prospective agent is your chance to gather information, and to ask questions. Decide what knowledge you’d like to come away with and write a list so you don’t forget anything; it can be overwhelming so don’t leave things to chance. Ask the agent what you should expect if you appoint them. Do they have a standard process they follow throughout a campaign, a strong database of prospective buyers, will you be dealing directly with them or mainly with an assistant, and will they be present at your open homes? Ask what they think the best method of sale will be for your property, and if auctioning, what happens if your property passes in and doesn’t sell. A prospective agent who works by a strong and proven set of processes should be able to answer all of these questions confidently.
Marketing
A good marketing campaign can add significantly to your sale price, and in many cases, it can help expedite a sale. Some agents sell their services based on cheap marketing packages, however, a high performing agent will confidently advise you that a strong marketing package is a good investment, not an unnecessary cost. A good marketing campaign should include professional photography, floor planning and copywriting; as they say, first impressions count. To connect with a wide range of buyers, your advertising should span multiple platforms including digital and print media. It’s also important to ask about their social media strategy, with around 11 million Australians accessing Facebook every day, a good agent will not only feature it on their own social media pages but on those of their company. They should also have a thorough understanding of paid placements to ensure your listing’s targeting the right people. The more exposure in the right places, the better the chance of finding the perfect buyer.
Quoting and fees
If you secure multiple agents to value your home prior to selling, it’s likely you may see variations relating to the estimated sale price. Whilst a higher valuation will naturally look attractive, don’t make the mistake of choosing an agent on this alone; look at the big picture. Likewise, don’t choose an agent simply because they offer the cheapest commission rate. Ask yourself why they’re willing to work for less than other agents, and what value and service they’re offering in their fee.
Choosing the right agent to sell your home will alleviate some of the inevitable anxiety you may feel when it comes time to put your property on the market, so do your research, consider your options and choose the agent you feel will best represent your home.
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