Ready to List With a Real Estate
Agent?
13 Things Your Agent Must do to Maximize Your Profits when Selling Your Home!
Ready to place your home on the market? Do
you understand the process and details of selling a home? Before you list
with an agent, educate yourself on all the factors that will affect your
profit. Be as informed as possible so you can make the absolutely best
business decisions. After all, the sale of your home is a business decision!
Most of us are not tuned into the trends and fluctuations of the real estate
market. Likewise we are not aware of the necessary steps to maximize profits
on the sale of our home. Typically we rely heavily upon an agent to lead us
down the most profitable path. When considering our home is usually the most
valuable asset we own, doesn't it make sense to list with someone who will
maximize our profits? But how do we find that agent?
This report is designed to empower you with critical information necessary
to evaluate an agent's qualifications and help you identify the professional
top producer. The more meticulous you become in selecting the right agent
the higher your profits will be!
Start by doing some research. Find out who the most active agents are in
your market. Look at advertising to see how professional it is. Ask friends
and family. Drive around the neighborhood looking for yard signs. Then
compile a list of agents.
The Phone Interview -
Place a call to each of the agents on your list. Document how quickly they
returned your call. Remember: they will be returning calls to your
prospective home buyers. Do an initial 'feel out' interview over the phone
so when you meet you will both be prepared.
Request a Complete
Plan - From title to escrow,
request a complete plan as to the services they can provide for you.
Evaluate Their Team -
Top producers will have established relationships with lenders, title reps,
inspectors... everything. They are there for your benefit and if they are
ill prepared to handle all the steps, you are being short changed.
Detailed Report of
your Property - Request a
complete report of your property with ideas for improvements, cosmetic
changes, structural repairs or anything that could add value to your
property. Remember a small investment up front will pay higher dividends at
the time of sale.
Alternative Report -
Request a complete report of alternatives to the home sale. What would
current market leases generate? Rentals? Responsibilities attached with
leasing? Have your agent educate you as to all your options.
Insist on
Pre-qualification - Don't waste
valuable time negotiating or showing your property to unqualified prospects.
Insist your agent pre-qualifies candidates to screen out all unwanted
prospects.
A Net Sheet -
Request a complete net sheet, minus commissions and fees, showing your exact
proceeds at the time of sale.
A Marketing Plan -
Insist on a step-by-step marketing plan of how your property is going to be
sold and marketed. Look for innovative ways to attract home buyers. Demand
24-hour advertising, lead accountability and tracking services. These
services exist and you should insist upon them.
Telemarketing Efforts
- Investigate the agents
telemarketing team. Do they just cold call or do they have a mechanism to
create proactive leads and call on those prospects?
Direct Mail -
Investigate the agents capacity to send direct mail. How often do prospects
receive mail? Is it professional? Does the mail piece motivate prospects to
respond?
Advertising -
Is it well written and professional? How many ad mediums do they utilize?
They should be advertising in at least three; a homes magazine, community or
local newspaper and yard signs. Remember: the quality of the advertising
will directly influence how well your home will be perceived.
Negotiation Strategy -
Have a written, well conceived, negotiation strategy. The old adage, "You
don't get what you deserve, you get what you negotiate" rings true in real
estate. Insist on a sound negotiation strategy before you entertain buyers.
Closing Checklist -
Be sure to get a written closing checklist. You need to know in detail how
you will conclude the sale of your home. This should provide a step-by-step
procedure that will be easy to understand and follow.
Click here to send this article to a
friend
|
