A good real estate agent is knowledgeable, professional, and dedicated to helping their clients achieve their goals. For home sellers, a great agent makes real estate transactions go smoothly and translates into more successful outcomes. When it comes to selling property, you want the best agent by your side. But how do you pick out the best person for the job?
In this blog post, we'll take a look at the 3 key areas that set the best agents apart from other real estate agents. We'll even give you a BIG hint where to find 'em!
Knowledge of the local real estate market
A great real estate agent will have a deep understanding of the local market, including current trends, property values, and local regulations.
A common mistake sellers make is giving their listing to someone they know personally, who may very well be a good agent in their own right, but is not an expert in their precise neighborhood. The problem with this is that the real estate industry is not some homogeneous pool of houses -- hyper-locality is a critical component.
You should only consider the best real estate agents in YOUR neighborhood. They will know the comparative market analysis by heart, they will know the factors that drive home prices upward, they will know the importance weightings assigned to all the variables about property. In fact, they will probably already have their finger on the pulse of prospective buyers. With a local area expert, they will know how to get your house sold quickly.
Proven Success as a Real Estate Agent
In addition to expertise in your area, you want a listing agent who has proven success selling residential real estate. This means you need to look for two things: a large enough body of work on which to judge them and sustained performance data in the upper echelon of agents.
You don't want your home sale to be in the hands of someone inexperienced. Of course, even the top real estate professionals had to start somewhere -- but that somewhere should be as a junior member of a team where they can pay their dues underneath a mentor. So look for someone who has been selling real estate for at least a few years full time. You want a true professional who has honed their craft and market knowledge.
The right agent won't just have years of experience, they will have years of experience outperforming their peers. Great real estate agents will have awards and accolades recognizing them as the top of of their class. Better yet, check out the underlying data if you have the ability to do so. How many transactions do they do each year, what is their median sale price, what's their lifetime volume of sales look like, and where do these numbers rack up against those of other agents? Any agent with a top tier professional reputation will have reliable data to verify it.
The Right Fit for You
Once you have identified the top-producing, experienced agents in your neighborhood, it's almost time to make your decision. The last factor you want to consider is who is the best real estate agent for you.
One professional real estate agent may be the perfect match for your next door neighbor, but not the right real estate agent for you and your home. Remember, your agent is an extension of you when they're representing your listing to potential buyers so you have to feel comfortable about this individual and their strategy. Personality and an agent's style matter. So it's always a good idea to meet and negotiate with at least three agents before awarding your listing. Here are a few things to consider in your evaluation period.
Good Communication Skills: An agent should be able to effectively communicate with clients, the buyer's agent, real estate attorneys, and other professionals in order to facilitate the sale. Most importantly, their method and cadence of communication with YOU should feel right.
Attention to Detail: Property transactions involve a lot of paperwork and details, so a good agent should be organized and detail-oriented. They will hear your every point and take the time to explain every little detail thoroughly. They can assist you on every aspect of the home sale, as well as a number of closely-related personal finance topics.
Professionalism: You need to feel comfortable with your agent's decision making throughout the entire real estate transaction. Choose a real estate broker who seems reliable, honest, and ethical in their dealings. You never want to second guess if your agent has your best interest at heart.
Conclusion
The right person to sell your home will be an expert in your neighborhood, have extensive professional development as a top agent, and will be the right personality match for you.
Ready to meet the top agents from each brokerage in your area? They'll help sell your home quickly for the most money.
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