How to Find the Right Real Estate Agent
Normally, we focus on the business side of social media and business growth. But let’s flip the script for a moment. Think about this from a consumer standpoint and you can see why you must have your business and marketing systems in place; this is how you become known, build trust, and build a referral network.
If you're looking to sell your home, finding the right real estate agent can be the key to success. After you've used a property value estimator to determine what your house is worth, a good agent can help you get that price, or maybe even better, in the quickest time possible. The question is, how to go about locating that skilled person?
Get a Referral
Odds are you know someone that's used a real estate agent recently, perhaps a friend, family member, your boss, a co-worker? Referrals are one of the best ways to find a real estate with peace of mind knowing that they did a good job for someone else. In fact, referrals make up nearly a third of the average realtors' business. You probably won't get referred to someone who's done a poor job for obvious reasons. Of course, because personality fit is important too, you'll still want to get to know them as you'll be spending quite a bit of time together throughout the process of selling your home. When you talk to the agent, ask questions to be sure that he or she is familiar with the kind of home and the type of community you're looking for too.
Research
If you don't know anyone who can recommend an agent, start researching online. Look for client reviews and check out social media pages. Once you've weeded out those who don't seem to fit the bill, keeping in mind that one or two negative reviews could be attributed to impossible to please customers, schedule appointments to meet with the rest. Three is a good number to start out with, talking to each one in person going over their experience and qualifications, asking what their strategies are for selling homes, and determining rapport.
Check Client References
It's always a good idea to check references - instead of simply asking for names, ask for the names and numbers of the agents' three most recent clients, otherwise, they're obviously going to give you the names of people whom they've had the most positive experiences with.
Watch for Red Flags
To get your listing, some realtors may distort the truth; for example, no sales price can ever be guaranteed. If the agent doesn't give you a range, but instead infers that he or she can get you a very high price, there's a good chance that person isn't being truthful. The realtor should have stats to back up a range of prices.
Carefully Go Over the Contract
You never want to sign a contract you haven't thoroughly read. It should include the commission amount, a specific duration such as three or six months and the activities the agent is authorized to conduct on your behalf. It will likely include the exclusive right for the agent to sell your property throughout the duration of the agreement and it may require you to verify some facts, for example, that you can legally sell your property and no one else has an ownership interest in it.
