Selling a home on your own can be a tough task. There are many long and complicated processes involved that can be challenging for the average homeowner. To avoid this hassle, most people turn to real estate agents to help them sell their home. However, you need to work with a reputable agent to enjoy their benefits and finding one among all the existing agents and conmen can also be challenging. The following is a guide on how to find the best agent to sell your house:
Ask People you Know and Trust for Leads:
Your friends, co-workers or family members could have dealt with a reputable agent who they’d vouch for. Ask them for contacts of such agents and see for yourself if everything checks out.
Do Some Research to Find Other Reputable Agents in your Area:
You need to find a number of other agents apart from the ones your friends know. A quick search online will give you a few names of top firms in your area. It doesn’t hurt to check them out and see what they have to offer.
Look at the Agent’s Past and Current Listings:
Now you are in the vetting stage and you should have a few names of potential agents already. Ask the agents to give you a list of the properties they have sold that year. Ask if the previous properties had some similarities with your property in price range, location, and other features. It helps to have an agent who specializes in your type of property. Find out how long it took the agents to sell such properties.
Also, check out their current listings and see the similarities and differences with your property.
Check for License or Disciplinary Actions:
Every state has a regulatory body that governs real estate agents and gives them a license to practice in that state. Such a body has a list of the licensed agents in that state as well as information on complaints or disciplinary actions against agents. This information is usually open for public access.
Select an Agent with Good Credentials:
Doctors have their specialties, and so do realtors. Some real estate agents may get additional training in special areas earning them some designations to indicate their expertise. Some of them include CRS(Certified Residential Specialist), ABR(
Accredited Buyer’s Representative), and SRES(Seniors Real Estate Specialist).
Find out if the agent is allowed to list properties on the MLS. This service is vital in finding you a buyer quickly.
Find Out How Experienced the Agent is:
You may ask the agent directly how long he has been practicing or find out from the state licensing authority. If an agent has not been in business for five years, they are probably still learning and it would be risky hiring them.
Gauge the Realtor’s Knowledge of the Market:
A good agent should be aware of the other properties available in your area and also know the unique features of the real estate market in your neighborhood. What are the average prices for a similar property? what are the vacancy rates? Are rents expected to go up or down? What types of properties are hot in that particular market? A good agent should be able to answer these and many more questions about the real estate market in your area.
Final Word:
Finding a good agent to sell your house can take a lot of time and due diligence, but once you do find him/her it will all be worth it. They will find a buyer for your property quickly, get you a great price on your home, and you never even have to lift a finger.