Topic Of The Month: Considerations When Listing, Part 3

Choosing The Best Agent For The Job

Possibly the hardest decision in listing your home is selecting the proper agent. Each agent will have different marketing tools available to them. Some agents have created a handful of these marketing channels themselves, while other marketing methods are provided by the brokerage or franchise. Very few sellers have the exact same needs, but almost all sellers are looking for maximum exposure. Make sure you have an agent that can custom tailor their marketing plan for you specifically, while having the tools to make your home easy to find. Nowadays “for sale by owners” have the ability to hold open houses, create signage, brochures and even advertise on the internet and other digital media sources. All of these abilities are good, but when lacking the professional touch, buyers going through such a complex process lose confidence and typically won’t pay as much as in a listing situation with real estate professionals involved. Nowadays over 80% of homebuyers are starting their search online. Make sure your agent has a good professional website that will show off the full appeal of your home, and keep it exposed to other smaller websites. The agent may also have marketing ideas that might normally seem trivial, such reflective yard signs, brochure flier boxes, interactive voice response (IVR) systems, video tours, and upgraded websites that get higher traffic. The last important thing is your agent should be easily accessible via phone and email, for your ease of communication and for potential buyers.