|
Agents are trained to be professional in their
presentations, and if you're new to the game, it's easy to
forget that you're the one doing the hiring, so you're the
one in charge. If you're new to interviewing listing
agents, there are things you'll want to find out before
you make your important decision.
 First,
do your homework before you make any listing appointments.
Talk to friends and family, especially those who live
nearby, to hear about their experiences with agents and
companies. Also check out the signs you see to find out if
there are certain companies or agents who specialize in
your area. They'll most likely have superior knowledge and
lists of buyers already looking for homes in your
neighborhood. Once you've gathered several names, call and
make appointments.
At your interviews, it's only natural that your first
concern will the proposed listing price, but don't be
surprised if you've estimated your home's value higher
than agents say it should be. It's common for homeowners
to overestimate their home's price, but agents tour homes
and work with clients every day and normally have a strong
feel for a home's worth, so listen to what they have to
say.
Agents should be prepared to offer a number of examples of
comparable homes in your area that have sold recently.
They should also be armed with statistics about how long
it took homes to sell in your area and about homes that
didn't sell. Listen to those statistics carefully, because
they represent the real world of buying and selling homes.
However, if you encounter an agent who agrees to list your
home at the higher price you initially were hoping for
even after they've shown strong evidence for a
considerably lower price, red flags should begin to go up
in your mind. In the real estate business, that practice
is called "buying a listing," and it means that the agent
has written off your chances of selling your home even
before you sign the listing papers.
When an agent buys your listing, they've traded your
realistic chance to sell your home for the simple
opportunity to put a sign in your yard, knowing full well
that the sign will generate calls from potential buyers.
From that point on, whenever someone calls the agent's
office about your home, that agent will apologetically
give the price and after the buyer has expressed their
disbelief, the agent will then suggest other homes in the
area that are more in line with what homes should be
selling for.
Listing
a home at the right price is critical to sales success. Do
your homework, interview several agents, and narrow your
choices to agents who come in within an average price
range. From that point, you can ask more specific
questions about how your home will be marketed, but don't
let an agent buy your listing. It will only lead to hard
feelings and lost time.
Copyright © 2006 Jeanette J.
Fisher
Get help from America's "Dream
Home" Maker, Jeanette Fisher--Sell
Your Home Fast
Other articles in the Home
Selling Guide:
Home Selling Guide - How to Find a Listing Agent
Home Selling Guide: Work with What You Have
Selling a Home by Yourself
Home Selling Checklist
Marketing Psychology
Please ask
Jeanette Fisher for permission to use the Home
Selling Guide
|
Jeanette Fisher's
