Things to keep in mind when choosing a great real estate agent
By | 3rd Apr 17

We often hear from people that choosing a real estate agent is a daunting task. Of course it is! There’s a lot of competition (and commission!) out there so sometimes it can be hard to pick the right real estate agent for you. The difference between a good agent and one that isn’t so great can mean tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars, so we understand why it’s important to find the person who has your interests at heart.

The property market has changed and it is so competitive that it’s important to pick an agent who has the initiative and know how to look for leads and any potential buyers. When you’re speaking to different agents it’s a good idea to quiz them about your suburb and the local area. Do they understand your audience? A great agent would understand the locality and tailor a marketing strategy to suit your budget and prospective buyers in the market. With this in mind, it is great to know if they have market data to substantiate their opinions. Looking for an agent who really knows the local market is really important for a number of reasons as they know the current property trends, feedback and should have their own database of buyers.

You might want to also be wary of free recommendation websites that claim they only have the best agents on their website. More often than not, agents have to pay part of their commission to be featured on their website. We like to think great agents have the power of word of mouth or referral from friends or colleagues.

Understanding your marketing strategy to sell your home is something that you also need to be comfortable with. Don’t feel pressured to be “up sold” into certain packages, but also be educated that gone are the days where a sales board is put up in front of a house and the leads are captured by people phoning for an inspection. A lot has moved online and more often than not, agents receive great pricing from real estate websites to list your property – so don’t forget to ask about the strategy behind your marketing campaign.

You need to trust your agent. At the end of the day they are the caretaker of your property while it is being sold so be measured, have questions you would like answered and don’t forget you don’t have to be pressured to sign an agreement when you meet them. If you think that you may need some added guidance or confidence in this area, get in touch so we can help you!

 

Do you know what Vendor advocates do? Our Vendor Advocate service assists our clients to sell their home or investment without the stress and hassle of doing it themselves. We work with you to find the right agent, price, strategy to ensure the best outcome for you. Contact us to see how we can help with your exact needs.