Choosing an Agent

Ours is a service industry, we all talk about providing you with good service. You have to figure out who walks the talk!

The right agent will bring you excellent results in the sale of your home- that is, your top dollar in a timely way without high stress or pressure!

Be careful of choosing an agent for the wrong reasons. There is huge diversity in the way agents approach their business and the marketing of your home. This translates to varying degrees of effectiveness in

a) selling your home b) maximizing the equity out of your home.

As in every business, there is a wide range in quality of service. The right agent will become your trusted advisor through the marketing process.

So how do you recognize the exceptional agent? Do you choose the agent with the most signs/highest volume of business? Maybe, but not necessarily so.

Make sure you make the differentiation between good agent and high volume agent. The two can go hand in hand, but be discerning. Don’t just assume that biggest = best for you! Look for quality of service.

Obviously, on the other hand, you don’t want to end up with your uncle’s friend who needs your business! You want to work with a successful agent with a proven track record. When you choose agents to interview, think about shifting the decimal by one point - from the top 1% percent to say the top 10 % of agents!

You want to work with an agent who will achieve excellent results for you! – a thorough, service orientated agent with a track record for working competently and diligently to maximize the profit out of your home, and who will look after your family’s best interests.

Some suggestions to help you discern who achieves effective results, listing by listing:

I suggest you interview at least three agents, and referrals from friends who have sold their homes are an excellent source.
Choosing agents to interview via the Internet is a good idea too, as you can get to know about their approach through their webs sites.
Tell the agents that you are interviewing several others, and don’t be pressured into deciding on an agent in their presence.
Sleep on it. Give yourselves time to digest the information, and if there are two of you involved in the decision, make sure you're on the same page!
You will have to be astute interviewers. Ask questions. We all talk about service. Listen carefully.

Questions to Ask the Agent:

What percentage of the agents business is repeat business from past clients and referrals from past clients? Established agents that offer quality of service get the majority of their business this way. Often over 80% of their business comes from repeat business and referrals from past clients. This is the best gage of customer satisfaction.
What is the average ratio of the sales price to listing price of their sold listings?
What is their average time on market?
What percentage of their listings do not sell?

Questions to ask yourselves about the agent:

Does the agent offer quality of service? (Will you receive careful, personalized service?)
How thorough is the agent’s understanding of pricing and marketing of homes?
What is the depth of market exposure that the agent offers?
Does the agent have a proven track record?
What is the agent’s attitude toward their business, and where does the agent focus his/her efforts?
Do you feel there is good rapport and understanding between yourselves and the agent?
Most importantly, do you feel that the agent will look after your family’s interests in a professional and caring manner?

The quality of your home selling experience will very much depend on your skill at selecting the best qualified person to sell your house.

It’s probably one of the most important transactions that you will be involved in for your family. The person you select can make it well planned, satisfying and profitable or a frustrating, pressured and unpleasant experience.