You have thought long and hard about selling your home and now you have made the final decision. What is the first step to putting your home on the market? Find a listing agent. You don’t want just any listing agent to put the home you made memories in to put it on the market. You want a listing agent who is dedicated to getting you the best price for your home and work closely with you to find buyers.
Professionalism
Your listing agent should act in a professional manner. When you work with a listing agent, you are entering into a business relationship; therefore there should be a clear understanding of expectations and goals. If the listing agent you are interviewing shows up without any contracts or research about your home, it shows that they are not dedicated enough to take the time to prepare for you.
Access to Resources
Each brokerage offers different resources to their real estate agents. However, the best listing agents find resources other than what their broker offers. Your listing agent should have a plethora of resources to market and promote your home once it is listed. Do they have a following on social media? Do they send out email blasts to their email list exclusively promoting your home? Every listing agent has access to the Multiple Listing Service, but not every agent has a network of people to promote your home to.
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Honest and Open Communication
The relationship between you and your listing agent should be honest and open. If you feel that your listing agent is hiding something from you or holding back on information, you should feel free to ask them about it. This relationship should be a strong, open line of communication. Without honesty and open communication, there may be confusion over your goals as a home seller, which results to you being unhappy with your listing agent.
Sign with for sale written on red surface
Agreeing on a Listing Price
Agreeing on a listing price can be the make or break when finding a listing agent. You want to work with a listing agent who understands what you want to get for your home, but they should also understand the market and realistic value of the home. Since the market is so volatile, your listing agent should be up to date and able to run comparable properties in order to come up with a realistic listing price. They should also be able to explain to you how they came up with the number.
Forming a Relationship
Working with a listing agent means putting your trust in them to get the most return for a home you made many memories in. It is more than just a business transaction; it is an emotional experience. Your listing agent should make you feel comfortable and that you can call them with any questions. It isn’t uncommon for real estate agents to befriend their clients and maintain a relationship with them over many years. Your listing agent should see you as more than a commission check, they should see you as a relationship to keep and nurture.
