Affiliate Real Estate Investing
PUTTING YOUR HOUSE ON THE MARKET? MAKE THE RIGHT CHOICE OF REAL ESTATE AGENT
Your home is your castle – so when it comes to selling it, you want to make sure that you’re king of that castle. Making the right choice of estate agent to assist with the sale of your property is vital.
Every seller wants to sell their property at the best price possible and in the shortest time.
A common mistake made by some sellers is to choose an estate agent who offers them the highest selling price or the lowest commission. Many estate agents use this common tactic to secure the mandate, but it’s often not in the seller’s best interests. Putting a high price on a property is one thing – actually achieving that is far from easy. Homes that are priced too high take longer to sell – and usually eventually sell at a lower price than a home that was correctly priced at the outset. The first 30 days of listing are so important as that is when the largest number of potential buyers will be attracted to the property – so it’s imperative to price it correctly. And if the house is priced below market value, people will be suspicious of hidden flaws. And if agents have secured the mandate on a lower commission, they may not be 100% motivated to sell the property.
So what should one base the choice of estate agent on? Here are some points to look for :
· Track record – ask to see the agent’s history of successful sales in the area around you
· They should have a good understanding and in-depth knowledge about yru local area .
· Pricing – this should include details of comparable properties sold in the past few years in your area, an overview of economic conditions, interest rates etc
· Ask the agent for a comprehensive plan as to their marketing strategy for your home. Some of the areas this should cover include the advertising plan, internet marketing including video streaming, virtual tours etc, feature sheet on the property, photography, letter box drops, show days, referral network and qualified buyers’ lists.
· The agent’s professionalism – do they present a professional image? Do they communicate transparently and clearly?
· Ask if they are affiliated to relevant industry bodies and whether they have any professional qualifications.
Before making a commitment, you may want to ask the real estate agent some questions along the lines of these which have been supplied by a Victoria Park property company:-
· May I see proof of your company’s success?
· Please show me your profile
· Please indicate your depth of local knowledge
· Do you live in the area?
· May I see evidence of your local track record?
· Are you the contact for this deal or will I be handed to someone else?
· Is it possible for me to contact clients – past and present – for a reference?
· How will our communications be structured?
As your estate agent will also be negotiating on your behalf, it is important that you feel comfortable with the agent’s negotiating skills. It’s a good idea to ask the agent to provide a list of properties that they have sold which reveals the listed price as well as the actual price that the property sold at.
And lastly, be careful when signing contracts with an estate agent. Always read the fine print, check that the time frames in the contract are suitable and ensure you have a way out if the agent underperforms.
Real Estate Affiliate Program
