Selling your home can be an emotional and complicated process. However, with the proper preparation and a great real estate team behind you- it doesn’t have to be exhausting. The right real estate agent can help simplify the act of selling your home and make sure your best interests are first and foremost.
If you or someone you know is in the process of selling their home, you’ve come to the right place. In this article, we will discuss how you should evaluate your real estate agent and questions you may want to ask your real estate team.
It’s essential to be transparent during the real estate process and to have smooth communication from both sides. Read on below to find out how to do that.
Evaluating Your Real Estate Agent’s Credentials
Firstly, when sifting through agents and trying to find the right one with your needs in mind, you should be evaluating the credentials of each. Look at Realtor.com or any similar website to see local agents in your area and to get an idea of how popular and credentialed they are.
The agents advertised on these websites are licensed and qualified and have the right expertise to help you sell any property.
Go further by interviewing the agents you seek to work with and asking any questions you have to clarify their work experience and knowledge. Don’t be afraid to shop around when choosing a realtor and ask about their fees, commissions and obligations.
On average, it’s pretty standard to interview a few real estate agents before finally committing to one.
Assessing Past Performance
It’s imperative to gauge whether your potential real estate agents have been successful with previous home sales. Ask them about current or past listings or search online for their details. Look at how they listed previous homes and the prices they sold them for.
Get an idea of how they stage properties, host showings and how their website looks. It’s always nice when a friend or family member refers a real estate agent to you. This way, you have someone to vouch for their past performance and quality.
You can ask around your neighbourhood to see if anyone knows a good real estate agent. It’s also worth checking social media to see which agents have a more comprehensive network or more clients who can recommend them.
The Significance of Local Expertise
Most homebuyers and sellers agree that an agent with expertise in the local area is precious. Such an agent can discern which pockets in an area are more valuable than others and which homes are worth investing in. They can also give a seller an accurate idea of what their home may be worth and what they can do to increase that value.
Real estate agents should always know the market and local trends. Factors such as the number of parks, schools, or libraries in an area can significantly contribute to its desirability, and a good realtor can pinpoint these factors.
While you, as the seller, may need to learn the ins and outs of your local market, you can rely on and leverage the knowledge of a professional real estate agent to cater to your local market and identify potential buyers.
Navigating the Listing Price
Anyone who has bought or sold a house in the past decade understands that the listing price can be a complex issue. Many times, bidding wars and multiple offers mean that the listing price is different from what the seller expects to sell for.
An excellent real estate agent can help you navigate your listing price and make it desirable for other potential buyers. Frequently, if you list your home too low or too high, you risk not attracting the clients you want. The listing price can quickly turn people off if it is out of range for them.
The perfect listing price is a strategy to attract buyers and get the price for your home you deserve.
Understanding Your Real Estate Team
A brokerage often consists of teams of realtors, admin professionals and the like. They work together to help execute home sales flawlessly. While you may have thought that real estate agents work in solitude, this is only partly true. Good real estate agents have a team backing them and appreciate the efforts of teamwork.
They know how to network and are better equipped as they pool together resources and expertise. Get a Brantford real estate team that cares and takes your home sale seriously. Committing to selling your home should be first and foremost in your agent’s mind.
Understanding The Expenses of Selling
Lastly, you must remember that even selling your home comes with expenses. An excellent real estate agent can help you make sense of them and work out a realistic budget. Closing costs for the seller can be as high as 6-10% of the total home purchase price.
Negotiations with your buyer and real estate agent will determine how much you pay. Sellers have to pay real estate commissions, land transfer taxes, escrow fees, lawyer fees, insurance and more. Don’t forget that sellers are also usually responsible for paying off any liens against the property they are selling.
Make Home Buying Easy With a Reputable Agent
Ultimately, when selling your home, you want to do so with as little hassle as possible. You don’t want to end up paying extra fees and tied up in unexpected regulations or timelines just because you missed something crucial. A good, reputable realtor can help guide you on the right path to selling your home fast and efficiently.
They can also help you negotiate the selling price that you deserve. Don’t neglect the process of finding the right real estate agent; once you do, don’t be afraid to ask the questions in the back of your mind.
