Because your home is one of your largest assets, it is important to select the right real estate agent to sell it. Your goal is to get top dollar for your home and sell it as quickly as possible without any unnecessary pitfalls along the way. Here are a few tips on how to select the best agent to list your home.
Find a Local Expert
Too many sellers automatically hand the sale over to a friend or family member who lives in a town 50 miles away. If you live in Newport News on the southern Virginia coastline, you want an agent specializing in homes for sale in Northern Suffolk VA, instead of your aunt in Richmond. Someone who regularly sells in your neighborhood is an expert on the housing market on your street and the surrounding area. He or she knows to set the price of your home higher because you are in a desirable school district or that the comparative sales have been steadily rising over the past few weeks. The local expert will get you the best price for your home because that agent knows the area.
Select a Full-Time Agent
In the real estate business, it is common to find “hobbyists” who only spend a fraction of their time actually selling homes. It could be a retiree supplementing their income occasionally, a professional working only on weekends as their second job or a homemaker who dabbles in real estate now and then. Make sure you only consider a full-time agent who regularly closes sales every month and has active listings. It is always best to hire the one who is 100% committed to getting your home sold.
Choose the One With Data
You probably will interview three real estate agents before you make your final decision on who will sell your home. As tempting as it may be to pick the one who offers you the highest listing price, your best choice is the agent who backs up their price with data. That agent will speak truthfully with you and not just tell you what you want to hear. Basing the price on data ensures your home is priced correctly for the current market, which means it should sell quickly. Those houses priced too high from the start tend to languish for a couple of months without any offers until the price is lowered.
Following these three tips will help you select the right real estate agent to sell your home and help you avoid any unnecessary issues.