In a hot seller’s market, you might think anyone can sell a house. And you might be right! But the goal isn’t simply to sell your house. The goal is to maximize your profit through a smooth transaction. And for that, you need an exceptional listing agent.
Here’s how to choose a listing agent.
Step 1: Limit Your Search to Well-Qualified Listing Agents
We know it can be tempting to contact your friend or family member who happens to be a real estate agent. But there’s too much at stake to hire someone simply because you have a relationship with them. You need a reliable professional with a proven track record of success. You owe it to yourself to seek out well-qualified listing agents.
Sequoia real estate agents are among the best in the business and have a well-earned reputation for excellence in communities all over the Bay Area. You can read brief, insightful Q&As with each agent on the Sequoia website to see which agents might be a good fit for you.
Step 2: Interview Multiple Listing Agents
Around 77% of sellers hire the first agent they speak with. But to make a well-informed decision, you really need to interview more than one agent.
Here are a few hard-hitting questions to ask in your interviews:
Can you provide testimonials from satisfied clients? You want confirmation that your listing agent candidates have gotten results for their previous clients.
What would you recommend as the list price for my house? You’re not looking for the agent who suggests the highest list price; you’re testing the agents to see how they arrive at their recommended value and if they’re willing to take the time to explain the pricing strategy to you.
How will you market my house? A good listing agent will come in with a proven strategy and will have room in that strategy to play up the highlights of your unique home.
How will you keep me updated? You want an agent who will keep you in the loop with regular updates and notify you of upcoming deadlines or potential issues.
Will you take a lower commission? This is a bit of a trick question. Remember, your listing agent will represent you in negotiations. This is a test of their ability to negotiate their own commission. If they won’t defend their own fee, how confident can you be that they will negotiate the best price and terms for you?
With just those five questions, you’ll learn a lot about your listing agent candidates.
Step 3: Ask Yourself Who Will Get Me the Best Results?
Selling your home is a critical financial decision. You need to hire the listing agent you feel will get you the best results. For most sellers, this means hiring the agent that will:
Get you top dollar,
Negotiate favorable terms,
Sell your house quickly, and
Make the transaction as stress-free as possible for you.
When you’re ready to hire a well-qualified listing agent to sell your Bay Area home, contact Sequoia Real Estate.