The Two For One Turnoff

I received an email last week containing an invitation to multiple seminars in real estate.  It included a 2 for 1 discount.  I’m actually not sure what the topics were.  My visceral reaction was to close the email immediately.  My first thought was, “how valuable could this be if they have to discount it?”

Sellers Take Note

It’s getting down to the wire for homeowners who are contemplating a sale in 2012 and are hoping to participate in the spring market. As you go through the process of interviewing agents, you will likely encounter some who will charge you a lesser commission fee than others.

Sellers Beware

A homeseller will occassionally select the agent who offers the lowest fee.  What they essentially do in such instnaces is create double jeopardy for themselves.  The agent who doesn’t charge a full commission is generally less competent that the others and provides less service.  Lack of competence often leads to incorrect pricing.  Thus the homeowner proceeds to list their home at the wrong price and chooses an agent for the wrong reasons who is ultimately less capable.

Sellers Advice

To avoid a choice that could lead to a loss of hundreds of thousands of dollars, follow the tips below when making the decision of with whom to list.

1. Testimonials. Ask the agent for testimonials.  Past performance is a good indicator of how they will perform for you.
2. Professionalism.  Note their professionalism.  In their appearance, in the questions that they ask you and in their response to the questions that you ask of them.
3. Rapport.  It is important for you to be able to “connect” with them just as it would be with anyone whom you would hire.
4. Data.  Expect enought data to give you a crystal clear view of market conditions and to support their suggested value of your home.
5. Creativity.  How creative is the strategy that they plan to implement to attract buyers to your home?
6. Staging. Gather enough information to create a comfort level with their stagers.  Staging your home is second only to pricing as the two most important factors in getting your home sold.
7. Scope.  The scope of their business is crucial.  It’s a different landscape in 2012 and hyper local experience is not enough.  The realtor who can tap into different markets will bring you more buyer activity.
8. Value.  Ask the agent to provide the average sale price to list price ratio with homes that they have listed.  An agent’s value should not be determined by the commission that they offer but by the sale price that they procure for their homeowner.

Would you like to add to the list?  Please do so in the comment section below. 

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