As a homeowner, it's vital to hire a strong & honest real estate agent to sell your
property. You'll fare best with sound marketing exposure and a strong negotiator who
genuinely cares about you. Integrity is essential for saving you money and ensuring
peace of mind.

The most reliable way to hire a real estate professional is to investigate more than
one specialist. Here are 8 tips to help guide you:

1. Locate at least three real estate professionals who are familiar with your
neighborhood.

2. Interview the real estate professionals you identified. Having a face-to-face
conversation with the person is a good way to find out if your personalities and goals
match. Also, there are things you'll want to ask:

  •          "Are you a REALTOR?" You'll probably have the best luck finding the right
    home if you work with a REALTOR, not simply a real estate agent. REALTORS are
    members of the National Association of Realtors. They are generally full-time
    agents who have committed financially, educationally and professionally to
    being an expert in the real estate industry.
  •         "How often can I expect to hear from you?" Many agents contact sellers on
    a regular basis to update them on how many showings their property has had
    and what potential buyers said after viewing your home.
  • "How quickly can I expect return phone calls?" You don't want to be ignored. If
    the agent doesn't have a callback policy ("You'll hear back from me within two
    hours/30 minutes/before the day ends"), you may not get the service you expect.
  •         "How will you market my property?" If the agent doesn't have a strong
    marketing plan, move on. Ask for examples of how the agent marketed a similar
    property in the past.
  •        "Will you give me your honest feedback?" Avoid "yes-men." Beware of
    agents who tell you they will list & sell your house at a higher than market value;
    they’ll likely have you drop the price soon after you sign the paperwork. Don’t
    be pressured into listing the house below market value either (unless you need
    an immediate sale).  Optimism balanced with reality is essential! Also, truth is
    important in the details: If your house isn't selling because the wallpaper the
    wrong color, you need to know. When you find a strong & honest agent, you'll
    get more out of each meeting, and make more intelligent & lucrative decisions.

3.        Compare interview notes. Think about each agent, and decide which one is
right for you. You should choose someone aggressive, but who doesn't make you feel
anxious or pressured. Your agent should be someone who makes you feel better,
more knowledgeable & clearer about the process of selling your home after each
conversation; trust is essential.

4.        Find an agent who is savvy about technology. Through the online tools
available to agents these days, you can expect nearly immediate e-mails about new
property listings and quick replies to your queries. Ask the potential agents if they will
create a website just for you.

5.        Before signing a contract, know that the term "Disclosed Dual Agent" often
means that the real estate agency does not represent your interests 100-percent.

6.        Ask the agent who is your top choice to do an informal walk-through of your
home. Find out if he or she thinks your property will need new paint, carpet or
repairs, or whether it should sell as-is. Ask how he or she believes this will influence
the strength of your negotiations with buyers. Ultimately, a home inspector will do a
complete evaluation of your home's strengths and weaknesses, but knowing how an
agent wants to present your home will help you decide whether or not you want to
work with that person.

7.        Select a strong negotiator. Ask your agent whether he or she has ever been in
a tough negotiating situation and ask how he or she negotiated a price with which the
client was happy.

8.        Select an agent with realistic rates. Most full-service agents charge 3% for their
services, with an additional 3% going to the buyers’ agent. Beware of Discount
Brokerages & agents who promise to sell your house for far less than the industry
standards. Agents work 100% on commission, and you will typically get what you pay
for. If money is your only reason for turning down the help of a full-service agent,
consider how their top-rate negotiating skills, willingness to work for you full-time,
and their personal investment in high quality and quantity marketing will save you
time and money in the end. Then, negotiate a rate and services that are satisfactory to
both of you.
8 TIPS FOR SELECTING THE RIGHT
REAL ESTATE AGENT TO SELL YOUR HOME
Amy Katz
RE/MAX Santa
Barbara/Montecito
1203 State St.
Santa Barbara, CA
93101
805-428-9252
amykatz@yahoo.co
m
Amy & buyer/friend Ann Marie