Strategies to Help You Find a Real Estate Agent

Choosing to place a house on the market is an important decision for American homeowners, especially when we consider that for most homeowners the house is their most valuable financial asset. Most homeowners choose to hire a real estate agent to list their house, attract potential buyers and handle the technical details of negotiating and filing the final sale. It is generally recommended that homeowners interview at least three candidates before making a final decision on a real estate agent hired to sell their home.

Begin Your Search Close to Home

If you are looking for a real estate agent, a good place to begin is in your own neighborhood. You may already be aware of real estate agents who have successfully sold houses in your local area. These agents generally advertise themselves by placing their names on the "For Sale" signs found in the front yards of houses placed on the market. Often times, real estate agents who have successfully sold homes in your neighborhood will try to generate publicity by mailing "Just Listed" or "Just Sold" pamphlets that document properties handled in your local community. Additionally, word-of-mouth recommendations from friends or neighbors are excellent sources of information. You should also use internet search engines, such as Google, to acquaint yourself with real estate agents and agencies in your region.

Consider a Real Estate Agent’s Familiarity With Your Local Community

Homeowners should not necessarily exclude a real estate agent from consideration simply because that agent has never worked with a property in the neighborhood. An excellent real estate agent won’t let unfamiliarity with a neighborhood stand between him or herself and collecting the highest possible commission. However, a real estate agent who is already familiar with the area may be able to use personal knowledge about local entertainment, shopping, schools, traffic, and municipal infrastructure when selling your home. If, as a home seller, you are torn between hiring two equally competent real estate agents, hire the agent with the most experience in your local area.

Important Questions to Ask Potential Real Estate Agents

Once you sit down to interview a potential real estate agent, begin by inquiring into that agent’s professional history. Ask how long they have been selling homes in the real estate business, as well as how long they have been selling homes in your particular region. In order to evaluate their success rate, ask how many sales they have completed in the past twelve months. You should also inquire as to how many listings they presently have, as well as the price range of those listings, in order to gage their present level of activity.

Ask for references from previous clients who were satisfied with this real estate agent. If this agent has a real estate team, find out who your primary contact over negotiations would be. Ask for a competitive market analysis to show how much they think your home is worth. And ask what commission rate they would charge for your home. The average real estate agent commission is roughly between five and six percent nationally, but this varies by region.