subject: The Advantages Of Finding A Good Real Estate Agent [print this page] Selling a home is never easy, but during the current buyer's market in most cities a residence sale is more difficult than ever. That's why selecting the best real estate agent can make a big difference in both the price you get and the speed with which your home sells.
Your first decision is whether or not you need a real estate agent. Approximately 20 percent of homes are sold without professional agents. However, most of those do-it-yourself sellers said next time they would hire a professional agent. Also, most do-it-yourself home sellers eventually hire a real estate agent to market their homes.
If you decide to do it yourself, you should be aware that this can take you a lot of time, since you will be the one who is answering the phone, showing the home, preparing a contract and closing the sale. That's a big responsibility.
Also don't forget that you are competing with a lot of other homes for sale through the local multiple listing service if you decide not to hire a professional agent.
Since you only have one home to sell, it can't really compete with hundreds of other homes in the MLS because a real estate agent will show at least a dozen of homes to a buyer which will fit his needs.
What will make you decide if you need a real estate agent or not is going through the procedure of selecting one. This way you will find out what kind of services they perform and see if this is what you require.
Interview at least 3 successful real estate agents. To determine if you need an agent, and, if so, which one is best requires interviewing at least three agents who sell homes in your vicinity. Of course, include agents recommended to you by friends and relatives.
Also take into consideration real estate agents who had recently invited you to their open houses or asked you if you considered selling your home. Be sure to interview them too.
Go through your neighborhood and pay attention to "sold" signs on houses and contact the agents who represented those homes. Newspaper classified ads are another way of finding out which agents advertise homes in your neighborhood.
Finally, phone nearby brokerages which specialize in homes in your area and ask the manager for the name of that firm's most successful agent who sells homes in your neighborhood. Don't just cold call and talk with any available agent because you are likely to get an inexperienced agent who has "floor duty" when you call.
