SelectingAgent

Robin Dampier, REALTOR®
Toll Free: 866-251-1150
Cell Phone: 828-231-5069

Your Hendersonville, Asheville, Brevard Source For Real Estate Information!

Selecting Your Real Estate Agent

The Agent brings the market to you. The market is determined by what a buyer is willing to pay and what a seller is willing to sell for.

The right Agent is the one who knows the market and can get you the best price possible -- NOT the one who promises you the highest price just to get you to list with them!!

"We don't just list your property -- we market it!"

Many of the same questions, hesitations and strategies connected with seeking out professional assistance in any field -- whether you're looking for a doctor, dentist, lawyer or accountant -- come into play when you're selecting a real estate agent.

Some people find an agent through a family member or friend. This is often a reliable approach. But you might not always find the most compatible assistance this way. And in a transaction as important and intensive as buying and selling a home, that can be critical.

A referral from a family member or friend doesn't guarantee a perfect match. Just think of something as simple as a movie or restaurant recommendation. Your close friends rave about a new Chinese food place downtown -- so you check it out. Could this possibly be the same restaurant they were describing? Mediocre service. No chopsticks. Bland flavors. It's the same restaurant. Same cook. Same servers. Just different perceptions.

A Few Things to Look For:

* Be wary of anyone who suggests they can get an unreasonably high sales price. An agent might use a high listing price to secure a listing contract, only to seek a lower price later, after little traffic is generated at the initial price level. Meanwhile, you've lost what can be the most critical time period in selling a home -- the first weeks immediately after it's listed. Pay close attention to the Market Analysis to justify the list price!

* How committed is the agent to the profession? Is the agent a part-timer who's just dabbling in real estate sales? Or is the agent a full-time professional, fully involved and committed to providing the best service possible to their clients and customers and fully abreast of changes/laws in the Real Estate Market? These concerns should be important to you when choosing your agent. A good rule of thumb is (unless the agent is new and just establishing their business) that the agent is listed in their local Board of Realtors Million Dollar Club.

* Is the agent part of a national network? This can be especially important if you're selling in one city in preparation of moving to another. Your selling agent can refer you to a professional, compatible agent in your destination city -- and keep in close contact with that agent so both your selling and buying efforts are closely coordinated. A company with a strong referral/relocation network will also work to bring you buyers from outside of the local area.

* And a final point: Does the agent seem primarily interested in sharing expertise and market knowledge in an honest and straightforward manner? Or does the agent seem more interested in telling you what you want to hear? The worst time to secure the services of a "yes-man" or an agent who seems to have a bit too many irons in the fire is when you're entering a transaction involving something as expensive as your home. You need straightforward, reliable information -- even if it's not necessarily flattering/or what you want to hear regarding the home you're selling!

Follow these basic guidelines and you should be able to find an agent who will provide you with a rewarding relationship on the sale of your very valuable asset -- Your Home.