If you haven’t worked with a listing agent before or if you’re thinking about selling your home and wondering about the expectations you should set for your listing agent, here are a few key takeaways to understand that I’ve gleaned in 30+ years as a listing agent in my marketplace:
Find the Right Listing Agent for You
I can tell you that as a listing agent, we provide a multitude of services, from planning and prepping to negotiating and closing. If a seller is looking to secure top dollar for their home, they should absolutely research who is actually selling homes in their area. Then, they should interview two or three of these agents to get an idea of their particular listing process and what they offer. As an example, for my clients, I offer a free consulting service to get their home ready for sale. Sellers are on different budgets, so how far we go depends on the individual sellers’ budget.
Understand How the Process Gets Started
Normally I come in and advise my clients on the minor cosmetic repairs that are necessary like painting, fix-up items and potential partial or full staging of the property to help achieve the highest price we can. Today, 99% of first views are online, so if the house doesn’t look its absolute best online, it will get a limited audience in any area. Making the property look attractive in photos will increase your buyer pool and the number of showings, which in turn increases the activity and possibility of multiple interest. Listings are like online dating. If it doesn’t look good the buyers are going to swipe in the wrong direction and never come through the front door!
Find An Agent Who Supports You Through Every Step of the Sale
A good listing agent will advise you from beginning to end, not just in the pre-marketing phase but also during the marketing phase. This listing agent will guide you through inspections and the closing process. These are uncharted waters for the uninitiated; any serious seller is well advised to hire an excellent listing agent to help them navigate the rough seas of any market and help them get top dollar through the agent’s connections, professionalism and networking with other local and out-of-area agents. Sellers should realize that the cost of a commission is often absorbed into the deal with a great listing agent providing invaluable services that will get you a much higher price than you might achieve on your own. How is this done? Well, it’s done through a lot of hard work, a finely honed expertise and sense of local-market trends, a broad network of connections, and valued placements in the local Multiple Listing Services as well as various local publications and outlets for publicity. Fantastic listing agents will have a multi-platform marketing plan that often includes listing syndication, social media campaigns, print and direct mail, and other unique ways of advertising that help your home stand out in the marketplace.
The bottom line? A commissioned listing agent well-selected is truly your key to success!
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Andrew Manning • REALTOR® • Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties • DRE: 00941825 • 818-380-2147 • andrew@andrewmanning.com