How to Choose A Listing Agent to Sell Your Home

by Richard Morrison
January 23, 2020
Selling
0

Selling your home is likely one of the biggest financial transactions you’ll make in your lifetime. Choosing the right listing agent to represent you is crucial to ensuring you get top dollar for your property. The agent you select will heavily influence everything from the marketing strategy to attract buyers, negotiating the highest possible sales price, and guiding you smoothly through the closing process.

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Key Takeaways

Don’t just choose a listing agent based on the highest suggested list price or the lowest commission. Effective marketing and negotiating skills are more important.
Look for an experienced agent familiar with your neighborhood who can tap into their network of contacts.
Ask about their specific marketing plan and how they’ll get your home in front of the most buyers.
Interview multiple agents and look for great communication skills, honesty, and someone you feel comfortable with.
Always verify licenses, read reviews, and ask for references from past clients.

Keep Reading:

Conduct Thorough Online Research To Find Agents Online

The internet provides a wealth of information to begin your listing agent search. Start by searching names of prospective agents in your area to browse their websites, social media, reviews, property listings, and more. This allows you to get a feel for how they market themselves and their listings. Look for professional yet engaging content that utilizes current real estate marketing trends.

Did you know that according to a survey by Richard Morrison, over 63% of recent home sellers said an agent’s online presence, including website and social media, was an important factor in their hiring decision?

Ask Friends and Family for Referrals To Choose An Agent

Online reviews have their place, but referrals from people you know and trust often hold the most weight. Think through your friends, relatives, coworkers, neighbors, and other personal connections who may have recently bought or sold in your area. Find out which listing agents they used and why they would or would not recommend them.

My wife and I moved last year, and we chose our listing agent solely based on a glowing referral from her sister who had used the agent to both sell her previous home and buy her new one. Our agent exceeded our expectations because she came highly vetted from a source we trusted.

Look Out for Red Flags

While researching listing agents, keep an eye out for any concerning traits that should raise red flags. Some examples include:

Limited recent sales experience or vague statistics on their transaction history
Weak online marketing skills – poor photos, sparse property details, lackluster social media presence
Primarily serving as a part-time agent vs full-time
Overly pushy demeanor or intense sales pressure
Unfamiliar with the nuances of your specific neighborhood
Questionable reviews mentioning dishonesty or lack of communication/responsiveness

Any of these factors should give you pause when considering a prospective listing agent.

Clarify Your Needs Upfront When You Decide To Sell Your Home

Before meeting with candidates, clarify to yourself what you value most in a listing agent. Do you require an agent well-versed in a niche market like luxury homes or condos? Are you on a tight timeline where quick sales turnaround is critical? Is robust digital marketing a priority?

Vet Prospects in Person When Possible

While a referral or stellar online presence is a great start, you should also make the effort to evaluate prospective listing agents in person when feasible. Attend one of their open houses or schedule an informal meet and greet over coffee. This gives you a chance to assess their interpersonal skills face-to-face before committing to work together.

Conduct Formal Interviews with At Least 3 Agents

Once you’ve identified around three listing agents that spark your interest either online or through referrals, it’s time to interview them formally. This allows you to directly ask important questions and gain key insights into their abilities and experience that static online bios don’t provide. Come prepared with questions that cover topics like:

Years of experience in real estate sales specifically within your area
Typical clientele and sales volume over the past 1-3 years
Marketing strategies they use for listings
What sets them apart from other competing listing agents
How they arrived at their estimated list price for your home
Who from their team/brokerage will be involved

Verify Licensing and Specialized Training

Any listing agent you seriously consider should be actively licensed in your state. Don’t just take their word for it – look them up to validate their license through databases like the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO). Also check for any complaints filed against them on record.

Beyond active licensure, seek out agents who pursue ongoing professional development through specialized certifications like:

Accredited Buyer’s Representative (ABR)
Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES)
Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist (RSPS)
Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS)

Ask for Their Marketing Plan and Sales Approach

One of the most important things to evaluate is how the agent plans to market and promote your listing to prospective buyers. Be wary of agents who provide vague answers or cookie-cutter strategies.

Ask specifically how they will leverage both digital and traditional marketing channels to maximize interest. Their plan should align with how today’s buyers search for homes. Does it include professional photography, 3D scanning, property websites, virtual tours, email campaigns, digital ads, print ads, open houses, agent caravans, and direct networking?

Look for Strong Reviews and References

Any prospective listing agent should provide reviews from past clients and referral contacts upon request. Pay attention to how recent the reviews are and whether any red flags come up repeatedly. Then actually reach out to references directly to ask how their experience was working with the agent.

Trust Your Gut Instinct When Looking For An Agent To Sell Your House

Ultimately, the most important indicator can’t be quantified: your gut instinct. Reflect on how each prospective listing agent makes you feel about trusting them to handle your largest asset during a highly emotional transaction.

FAQs

Q: How do I choose a listing agent?

A: Choosing the right listing agent is an important step in selling your home. It’s important to research agents and ask questions to make sure you find an agent that meets your needs. When looking for an agent, start by asking friends and family for referrals. Once you have a few names, look into their credentials and experience in home sales. Ask if they have sold homes similar to yours in the past or if they have experience with the current real estate market. Consider how much attention your listing will get from each agent, as well as how much expertise an agent may bring to pricing your home.

Q: What should I ask when hiring a listing agent?

A: When interviewing potential agents, be sure to ask about their background and experience in selling homes, including any awards or accolades they may have received. You should also ask them how they plan to market your home and give it the attention it deserves, as well as what strategies they would use to get the best price for your home. Additionally, inquire about any fees associated with their services.

Q: How can I find the right listing agent?

A: To find the suitable listing agent for you, take some time to research agents online and contact several of them for more information. Be sure to review their credentials and check out reviews from previous clients. Additionally, consider interviewing at least three agents before making a decision on who to hire.

Q: How do I know which is the best listing agent?

A: The best listing agent is one that has proven success in selling homes similar to yours for top dollar. Look for an agent with good ratings from past clients and read reviews of their services before hiring them. Additionally, consider whether the agent has experience working with buyers in the current market.

Q: What do I need to know before choosing a real estate agent?

A: Before choosing a real estate agent, it’s important to determine what type of service you’re looking for from them – such as marketing assistance or negotiation tactics – so that you can ensure you are getting all of the necessary services from them. You should also research different agents’ fees and compare them against one another so that you can get the most value out of your money.

Q: How do I pick an Agent to Sell my House?

A: Picking an Agent to Sell Your House requires careful consideration of each Agents qualifications & abilities specific to selling your house type & location. Start by researching Agents online & gathering referrals from friends & family who’ve recently sold a home; then interview 3-4 Agents & compare qualifications & strategies used by each Agent such as Marketing Strategies & Negotiation Tactics.

Q: How can I choose the best realtor for me?

A: Finding the best realtor involves researching agents in your area and examining their credentials, experience level, reputation among other homeowners who have used their services before, marketing strategies used when working with buyers, and whether or not they have knowledge about current market trends related to pricing and sales.

Q: What should I look for when selecting an Agent?

A: When selecting an Agent it’s important that you look at their track record – specifically if they’ve sold homes like yours recently – as well as customer reviews/ratings online by those who’ve worked with them previously. Additionally factor in what services they offer (including marketing strategies) that could help give your house maximum exposure while still keeping costs low.

Conclusion

Choosing the suitable listing agent to sell your home is a critical decision. It’s important to find an agent with experience selling homes in your area, as well as one who is a member of the National Association of Realtors. Ask the agent about their marketing approach and multiple listing services they use to ensure you get the best price for your home.

Ready to turn your real estate dreams into reality? Contact Richard Morrison, Vancouver’s top realtor with 20+ years of experience. As a Medallion Club member and RE/MAX Hall of Fame award winning agent, he’s the expert you need on your side. Whether buying, selling, or investing, Richard’s personalized approach and deep market insights ensure a successful transaction. Reach out to Richard today at (778) 900-2235 and make your real estate journey seamless and rewarding.

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