All real estate agents are not created equal. They may have access to the same systems, the same information and market data, similar industry tools used across the board and universal access to government agencies that house important data that may be relevant in helping you sell your home. So what sets apart the successful ones from the bad apples? It is how they use the things that are at their disposal – that is what makes all the difference.
Now,
unless you are completely well versed in the process of home selling
and real estate, chances are you may not know all the ins and outs of
these tools. So how can you measure the success rate of potential
agents you may or may not want to work with? The answer lies in
three important metrics that you can easily employ to help you make
that decision.
Does
The Agent Have a Proven Track Record?
Anyone
can tell you they are good. They can even show you a few case
studies that support their statement. But the best way to tell
whether the performance is up to par is to measure how they do and
have done during the good times and
the bad. These days, in light of our challenged
market of the past several years, it is the perfect time to
assess the track record of agents you may be considering. Do they
have sales that average one every few months? Is this metric
standard for all their years as an agent or reflective of the more
recent hard times?
What
Is The Agent’s Marketing Strategy?
In
real estate, the marketing has traditionally not been as aggressive
as other areas of investment. Lately, however, there has been an
increase in more aggressive techniques that more often than not lead
to success for several reasons. Agents typically adopt passive
marketing measures – industry standards – such as MLS
listings, conducting open houses, using the Internet for localized
promotion as well as word of mouth. However, the newer brand of
marketing is active marketing. This entails a “reach out and grab
prospects” approach and while it may seem pushy, the results are
worth it. The difference between an agent opting for both styles
versus just the one, traditional method, can be as significant as
landing you a better offer in quicker time with a bigger selling
price. The presence of an additional offer on the table raises the
stakes, making all these things possible and far more probable than
if there was just one offer on the table.
What
Does The List of References Look Like?
Of
course you will be provided a list of references while shopping for a
new agent. And of course the people on that list will have good
things to say about the Realtor. But consider this: what agent will
give you a list of people that don’t
have something nice to say? A good way to approach what could be a
gaping hole in this area is to ignore the list provided to you and
instead, request a list with names of people the real estate agent is
either currently working with or with whom he or she has recently
closed a sale. Then,
ask the key questions to help guide you whether this is the right
agent for you: Are they timely? Is the agent accessible? Do they
deliver on the promises they make? What were the results of each
case?
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At
the end of the day, the goal is that you sell your property and sell
it well. Selling it well can translate to a higher price, more
efficiently managed procedures, smoother and streamlined process, and
an overall quicker turn around time. By following the suggestions in
this article, you will be able to discern the best agent in your area
to handle your specific needs. Half the battle of selling your home
is in choosing the right agent to help you achieve your goal.
