what do i need to look for when selecting an agent to sell my house?

Answer 1

Someone you can communicate with and feel comfortable with. You are going to be revealing a lot of personal information, and though an agent has Fiduciary duties (similar to a doctor or lawyer, keeping information confidential, being honest, respecting and obeying your wishes within the law) it is always easier to work with someone who you can feel be your friend, as well as your employee. You are hiring someone, so make sure to interview people! Talk to three or four, hire the one who can follow through on their promise. REMEMBER: a listing agreement can be canceled by the client if they are not performing as agreed! But you can not know if they are working for you or not if they do not communicate!

Answer 2

1) how long has the agent been in the business. sometimes it might be better to get a newer agent who is going to spend more time on your listing than an older one who only sees you as a number.

2) Advertising: How often will ads be run for your property;list the specific publications the ads will appear; how will your property be advertised to other agents in the area. most listed homes are sold via MLS, but you need all of the exposure you can get.

3) Many agents will ask you to sign a 6 month or longer listing agreement. Agree to a 3 month agreement to get started. Explain to the agent that if you are satisfied with their work, you will consider extending the listing agreement. It will take a minimum of 3 months in most areas to get the house sold. Any less time in the listing agreement and you are not giving the agent a fair chance.

4) Make sure the agent is someone you feel comfortable with. You will be working with this person on perhaps the most important financial transaction of your life. You want to feel comfortable with them.

These are the basic things to be concerned about.

If you have any other questions, feel free to email me.

Answer 3

I just answered this question for someone else. Here it is again.


Everything in a Real Estate transaction is negotiable! That is the first and most important rule to remember. First thing you do is contact a Realtor. There is no standard rate for commissions but the average rate is around 6%. In my area south of New Orleans if a property is listed less than 100K it is usually a little higher and if the house is more than 200K it is usually a little less. Finding an agent that works your area is always best. Not necessarily the one with the most signs in your area will work best for you. Think of it as hiring an employee. After all you are hiring them and they will work for you. Interview them, not the other way around. Let them talk first, tell you what they are offering and see what they suggest. Then you ask your questions. Are they a full time agent? A must! How long have they been licensed? you don't want a rookie but you don't want someone who has been an agent for more than 20 years and set in their ways. Where do they live? An agent who lives in your area will be more partial to bring buyers to your area. What can they do for you that the other agents are not doing. Remember newspapers does not sell real estate. Agents and companies use newspapers to get clients. Most of the really good deals in the newspaper are under contract before they even get in the paper. They are used for bait. After you question them did their answers conflict with what they told you in the beginning? If so you don't want them because they are telling you what you want to hear and not what you need to hear. Did they offer you a CMA or a BPO if they are a broker? They should have. How will you know if the price you want for your property is the right price 5% too high will result and a severe drop in showings and eventually a less than value offer. 5% too low will sell your house really fast and get better offers but you will not be selling at its best price. Now for the commission. The split with the buyers agency and your agents agency is what ever your agent wants to offer to the other agency. I would suggest that you offer to your agent after you decide who that will be a 6% more or less with a 2/4 split giving the buyers agent the 4%. This will appear to all the other agents as an 8% with you only paying 6%. It will also make your house more appealing to other agents because they will make more money selling your house. Agents market to agents with buyers not to buyers. Agents bring buyers to the real estate that makes them the most money. Get it? You can also offer a bonus to the buyers agency with a non negotiated full price offer. The good thing about a bonus like this is you hardly ever pay it because if they offer you one dollar less or negotiate anything in the contract like you paying for a discount point then you don't pay it. Don't be influenced by your family and friends who don't buy and sell houses for a living! You don't take your car to a vet so don't let your vet give you real estate advice. If you feel that an agent is pressuring you because everyone else is doing it, refer to rule number one! Everything is negotiable. It is also a good idea to sell your house as is and add a home warranty.
I hope this helps you a little. If you would like some more advice feel free to contact me directly threw here. I could also interview agents in your area for you and connect you with someone you will like.
Good luck with your selling adventure.

Michael Vogt

Also remember you get what you pay for. Too low a commission offered to the buyers agent will cause everyone else's house to get shown but yours.

Answer 4

You need one with common sense. They are all good at giving facts,figures, compts and data that is readily available to them,but most don't make too much common sense.

You should interview at least 3 of these individuals.

#1 Find out if they work your area or do they cover the world?

If they are working the world, then they know nothing about your area except what they get from their trusted computer. Ask them if they know where the local high school,middle school and elememtary school is located and if they know the name. This should be information they have off the tip of their tongue. See if they know where the shopping malls are located without looking it up. If they do not know you should move on.

#2 Find out how many houses they have sold within 5-10 blocks of your house? Find out how many they have sold in the last 90 days or so. Find out how many listings they have had, they could be too busy for you.

If they say none to selling then you should move on.

If they give you lots of listings but few or no sales move on these are listing agent they do not plan to advertise your house, hold open houses or do anything other than list your house for other agents to sell.

#3 Find out how they plan to market your house through print ads, open houses, flyers and other methods of advertising.

#4 How do you feel about the individual?

Is this a person you feel comfortable with. If you are a young person do you feel comfortable working with an elderly person or if you are a older person do you feel comfortable working with a whipper snapper? So how you feel about a certain individual is very important. Do this person dress the way you would want a person handling the selling of your house dress? Is this person constantly on his cell telephone not paying attention to you and
not making you his priority? Will he handle the clients looking to purchase your house the same way. Perhaps he is too important to handle you and the selling of your house.

#5 Who will handle you if you have a question?

If he says he has a staff this in itself is not a turn off, however, try and determine if his staff is knowledgeable. If you really want to get in contact with him how long does it really take him to return calls.

#6 How long will you want to list my home

Sixty-days is normal for me. I haven't the slighest idea of what is normal for him. If he insist on a long term stick with 60 days and a possible 30 day roll over at your option.

Contract are written by the individuals that are making the contract. Because some things are in the contract does not mean you have to agree with each item. It also does not prohibit you from adding things to the contract.

You might add that this contract will be voided if either party is not pleased with each other after 30 days.

Just remember you are doing the hiring and what is normal or standard to them might not be normal and standard to you. So don't fall for the this is a standard contract we use it all the time. tell them to add a sheet of paper to modify it, by you both signing the extra sheet it becomes a part of the contract. Make some reference to an addendum in the contract.

The standard and normal 6% commission is also not set in stone you can negotiate it to whatever you want. They will give you the story about sharing and splits. That is not your problem. You are attempting to get the maximum amount of money from the sale of your house into your pocket not into the pocket of a real estate agent.

I hope this has been of some use to you, good luck.

"FIGHT ON"

Answer 5

All those answers are bery good. But make sure you can trust your Agent. I work with agents all over the country and the trust factor that most appeals to me. Yes they have to know what they are doing, but honesty is my main concern.
Real Estate agents work on commision, so the wrong agent will tell you anything to get you to buy or sell a property. Its called "Puffing" or "Coercing". Its illegal, but rarely enforced by the Department of Real Estate.
My opinion is: An agent who talks a lot and you get the feeling he is trying to sell you something, is only interested in a sale, and not your well being.
I like to put real estate agents through a little test when I begin dealing with them. I ask them a ton of questions (Most of which I already know) to see their level of honesty and Knowledge of Real Estate.

Answer 6

Get an agent with lots of experience, and can supply references.

Call their references and talk personally to them, don't assume what you are given on paper is the truth ( many times they are not ).

Drive about town and see where other homes are listed with this person, then contact the homeowner and ask if they are satisfied with the performance of the agent.

Finally, check with the Real Estate Board in your area for any complaints and/or lawsuits involving this agent. You probably have to pay a fee for this kind of search.

Answer 7

Find out if the agent will spend any of his own money on advertising, staging and getting support from his colleagues to market your home.