.svg)
They say that buying a property can be the biggest decision you'll ever make, but could selling your home top it? After all, you're branching back out in the property market to buy a new property, only now you may have the added stress of trying to fetch a great price on the property you already have.
Get the timing wrong, and you may end up losing money. So how do you get on the right side of the ledger and get peace of mind when selling your home? For some, the key lies in their real estate agent. Here are a few signs that an agent may be the right one for you. What makes a good real estate agent when you're selling?
1) They back up their work
Consider checking up on other people's research and market valuations – does it match up with what your agent is saying? Now, we don't mean they back their work up on a portable hard drive. Rather, when an agent suggests an asking price for your property, they provide all the right details to reinforce how they came to that figure. A comparative market analysis can be a useful tool for this, as it compiles sale prices and values of similar properties in your area.
2) They follow up on their promises
Ever had someone say they'll get right back to you, and you don't hear from them for days? It's a problem for people selling their homes with real estate agents, too. In particular, checking back with vendors after open homes or inspections and leaving people to do their own paperwork. An agent that gets back to you and goes through the fine print can be an important asset as you sell.
3) They have a good track record
Whether it's because you observed an agent sell another home or were recommended an agent by friends and family, a little research may surface the best agent for you.
4) They treat everyone as a buyer
If an agent has a history of being selective about who they contact or tend to neglect to call everyone who visits the open home, they might not be doing everything they can to sell your property. When you host an open home or list a property for sale, you never know who will end up being the buyer. That's why better-selling agents treat everyone that interacts with the marketing campaign as a prospective buyer.
5) Knowledge is power
Perhaps most importantly, least expensive may not be the best. You might have to pay more for an agent that demonstrates excellent knowledge of the local market, but it could be worth it in the long run.
It's a good idea to give appropriate value to an agent's market knowledge and connections over their price.
