Overview

While some can sell their home on their own and make money, there is a lot more work to do than you think, and hiring a professional real estate agent will help ease the stress and responsibilities that come with selling a home from beginning to end. Unlike prepping your home for the real estate market alone, a realtor will help stage your home and play a critical role in listing your property for sale. This will allow you to be stress-free and attend to other critical daily life issues requiring your attention. However, since all real estate agents are not cut from the same cloth, you need to choose a realtor who will be able to make all the difference with your most significant life investment. This article will discuss the various factors you should consider when hiring a real estate agent. This article will be an eye-opener for you.

1. The real estate agent should be a highly recommended person

With the proliferation of real estate agents in recent times, finding one can be a daunting undertaking. Due to this reason, it is always advisable to ask for recommendations from friends and family who have sold properties before.

Google reviews and ratings can help you select a realtor who will make it easy for you to sell your home and make money. When choosing a realtor, ensure that he or she has been recommended by various people you know. Check the reviews of the realtor online in order to establish whether he or she offers quality services or not. If the realtor has many positive reviews, that should be the person to work with.

2. Check the experience of the realtor

A good realtor is one who has been in operation for several years. If the agent has a solid track record of success in the real estate market, you can trust that he will be able to market your home more effectively. Does the realtor have knowledge and experience with your unique selling situation?  What designations does that realtor hold? and how they have used those designations to assist clients. Does the realtor operate a full-time real estate business, and do they have the staff to assist with processes and systems to get your home sold?   

Thankfully, a more experienced agent understands the current market trends and thus will enable you to get the best deal within the shortest time possible. The more experienced a real estate agent is, the more reliable he/she is likely to be.

3. Fees charged

Different real estate agents charge different fees in order to offer their unique services. When choosing a real estate agent to work with, be bold and ask how much the realtor is likely to charge as a commission in order to list and sell your home.  But most importantly, what will they do to sell your home?  Ask them to show you their marketing plan and explain the processes they have in place to help sell your home fast and for top dollar.

Realtors charge different fees, and you should be able to see exactly what they do for their fees.   What they do will allow you to get fantastic value for your property. If possible, consult several agents so that you can compare their fees and marketing plans in order for you to make a wise decision.  You need to see what you will be getting and what you are missing out on.  A low fee or a low flat fee is low for a reason.  You will lack the advertising budget to get top dollar for your most significant investment.  Ultimately, the saying “you get what you pay for” is exactly what you will get.       

4. Open communication

The last thing you would like to experience as a home seller is having a realtor who does not communicate effectively with you. It can be worse if the agent keeps on ghosting you every now and then. Suppose you settle for such an agent; be sure you will struggle to know the progress of your transactions.

Ideally, the agent should be a good communicator so that you can know whether your listed house is getting leads or not. Also, you will know other factors to consider to make your house sell fast.

A good example would be to review the price of your home. The agent will be open to you and thus enable you to make such changes within the shortest time possible. Your agent should be easy to reach on the phone for optimal results. Additionally, he should have a valid email address and be available for personal meetings during office hours.

5. Check the realtor’s personality

Besides all the factors we have discussed above, it is imperative to keep an eye on the realtor's personality before settling for him or her. To put this into perspective, you should choose a real estate agent who is genuine, honest, trustworthy, relatable, and passionate about his or her work. The agent should also be a good negotiator, as this will play an instrumental role in enabling you to get top dollar on the sale of your home. 

6. Guarantees in writing

When choosing a realtor, make sure you select a realtor that offers you guarantees.  These guarantees should be in writing to show just how committed the realtor is to their job and their clients.  A realtor who puts “their money where their mouth is” will ensure the transaction runs smoothly from beginning to end.

Conclusion

The process of selling your home goes beyond listing it for sale. You should ensure that you choose the right asking price, negotiate with various prospective buyers, and convince buyers that your home is the best property to invest in and so much more. All those undertakings can be cumbersome for one person to handle alone. This is where a real estate agent comes in. When choosing one to work with, consider all the ideas that we have discussed above, and you will enjoy the results. From being able to sell your home fast to getting top dollar for your property, there are many benefits that you are likely to reap. Consider all the ideas we have discussed above.