Preparing to sell your home is a major financial decision that must be followed through with great confidence. One of the smartest moves in keeping the sale on track is finding a good listing agent. Selecting the right candidate will take some responsibility off your plate.
The goal is to get the biggest return available on the market when selling your home. Usually, this can be gained in a short period of time if you find a qualified buyer. A smart listing agent will accomplish this task by marketing and showing the home to those who can pay the asking price. The art of negotiation is useless if the listing agent cannot gain fair value for their client.
Most homeowners choose not to tackle the option of selling their home on their own, but at the same time, they have a hard time trusting any person aligned with the real estate industry. Often, it’s hard to learn how to find a good listing agent, but it can be accomplished.
Get Referrals from Other Homeowners
Word-of-mouth referrals from other homeowners are the best source in how to find a good listing agent. It’s important to confirm that the homeowner used the agent to sell their home and not endorsing a relative or family friend who work in the industry. A referral of this nature is useless if the listing agent is incompetent at their job. You need some form of assurance in their ability to execute a marketing plan and securing a sale.
Meet with Several Listing Agents Before Choosing One
If you own a business, you would never choose a new hire after interviewing one person for the position. Likewise, you should never hire the first listing agent you meet with to sell your home. No, talk with several candidates before choosing one. It’s all about feeling confident they have the skills to secure your asking price in any potential sale. Still, you must do your research and confirm a person’s credentials before moving forward. Don’t make the mistake of believing a listing agent’s glossy presentation. No, select a person who has a proven record of reading the current trends in the real estate market.
Look at The Listing Agent’s Previous Sales
You’ve received great referrals and sat through a terrific presentation, but after signing the agreement papers, you find out that your new listing agent hasn’t closed a sale in years. To avoid this mishap, ask for verification of the agent’s recent completed sales, which can be confirmed by the National Association of Realtors (NAR). They can assist with checking the accuracy of the numbers provided. Often, NAR can print out a list of recent sold homes by the listing agent and provide a performance grade of all registered listing agents in the area.
