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The
three R’s: Research, research and more research.
Ask around. Friends and family, especially those
who have had recent experiences with real estate,
could point you in the right direction. But that
may not be enough. Compile your list of agents
from advertisements, the papers, the Internet,
the yellow pages and even “For Sale”
signs. Once you have your list, act. |
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Call each agent
on your list as. Take note of their promptness
in returning your call. Do you feel comfortable
asking this agent a few questions that you have
prepared? Do you feel comfortable with his/ her
answers? If you do, set up a meeting. |
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When you meet
ask for a detailed plan of the services he or
she would be able to provide. |
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Study the team.
Do they work as a team with your interests at
heart? How far will they go to support you? |
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Invest in a
detailed report of the property. Ask for ideas
about improvement, cosmetic or structural changes
or anything else that would increase its value. |
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Ask for a list
of other options to selling the house. Would It
be more profitable to lease it? What would the
responsibilities, drawbacks and advantages of
renting it and be? |
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Depend upon
your agent to save time and effort by pre-qualifying
candidates and entertaining only qualified prospects. |
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Your agent must
be expected to provide you with a net sheet. This
will show you the exact proceeds during a sale
after commissions and fees have been deducted. |
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Ask for a marketing
plan. How is your agent proposing to market your
house? Expect original and innovative means of
attracting perspective buyers. Advertising, tracking
services and lead accountability must be made
available to you. |
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How does the
agent's telemarketing team work? Are they able
to create pro-active leads? Are they able to call
on those prospects? |
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Does the agent
correspond by direct mail? How regularly? How
professionally? Does the mail evoke responses? |
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How does the
agent advertise? In how many mediums? What is
the quality of the agent's advertising? How your
home will be looked upon will correspond directly
to this. |
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Be very clear
with your agent has to what your negotiation strategy
will be. Make sure it is a written, well planned,
sound one. |
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Get your agent
to give you a written closing checklist. You must
have a detailed list has to how sale of your home
may be concluded. This list should be well planned,
logically progressive, and easily understood and
followed. |
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| Now
that you know why you need a real estate agent
and what to look for in your agent, here's to
a profitable and satisfying sale of the place
you called 'home' these past few years. |
