Often times sellers hire an agent based on a friend's referral or maybe because they found an agent while surfing the internet or at a networking event. It turns out choosing the right agent for the job of selling your home could mean the difference of 10's of thousands of dollars or the difference between success or failure in getting your home sold.

Here are some important things to consider when looking for an agent:

  1. Does the agent sell more homes than the average REALTOR? Many agents talk the talk, but do they walk the walk? The average agent in our area sells between 1-2 homes per year. Can an agent that sells 1 or 2 homes a year really have the experience you need to get your home sold, handle issues that arise in every transaction, and negotiate successfully on your behalf? Often times they do not...
  2. If you're a step-up or step-down buyer, does the agent have experience dealing with and handling these types of situations? One of the most complex and difficult things an agent must handle is working with a seller who wants to sell and buy simultaneously or in close proximity. This is an area where only the sharpest and most experienced agents you can find are skilled at navigating. As an experienced team who handles these types of transactions regularly, we've seen a large number of long term or "seemingly experienced" agents totally drop the ball when in charge of these types of situations. You don't want this happening to you.
  3. Does the agent have the skill to help keep you out of hot water and legal problems during and after the sale? Many sellers don't even think about these kinds of things until it's too late! I deal with agents, "seemingly experienced," or otherwise who lack the ability to see the unseen and prepare for the unexpected when representing their clients. Many buyers and agents are extremely savvy and look for opportunities to exploit throughout the transaction process. A great agent can be worth their weight in gold when advising how to handle difficult situations that come up in most transactions.
  4. Is the agent really available when you need them? I hear stories continuously of how a seller can't get a call back from their agent or how a large real estate team passes the buck around from person to person and the seller can't get a hold of who they thought was representing them. If they provide this level of service to their client what does this say about everything else that they're doing seen or otherwise? Even though we operate as a team, client communication is one of the pillars of our success, and we are always available for our clients!