What should I look for in a RE agent to sell my house? (Realtors, closing)

[Stripes17]

We've moved several times over the years (mostly through professional relocations), but our last move was almost ten years ago. Thus, we're a little out of touch with the market and such. However, we're currently thinking about selling our current house and downsizing into a more suitable space.

What criteria would you professionals on this site recommend in finding an agent to use?

[clevelandparkrocks]

Hi, I can refer you to someone at a top agency if you like. Message me. You should look for someone that has at least 5 years experience, is full time and an avid techie. Those are top characterstics assuming the standard- knows the area, patient, orderly, strong numerical sense and honest.

[tomocox]

Stripes, All real estate is truly local. Interview several agents. Get referrals from them, call the referrals. I would start looking at their educational history. Yes, a bachelors, even a masters degree is relevant. Not to improve their real estate abilities directly, but more about their ability to learn. We are in a fast transforming business. Are your candidates at the top of their knowledge cycle. I would look for CRS, CRB, GRI, SRES, etc. Shows interest in being better.

Now to the hard part. # of listings they have had within 5 miles of your home (even down to a mile or better yet, within your neighborhood). How many of those listings sold, how many days on the market? How close to the original list price was the closing price?

Lastly, how do you feel about giving the person you have chosen having free reign of your home? Do you believe the person you choose is will be best able to protect your personal interests?

[Silverfall]

Stripes there are a lot of threads on here where the agents have offered their advice on how to find a good agent. Do some searching and you will get some really good advice.

[twingles]

Find someone who is enthusiastic about your house. How can they sell it if they don't like?! Even if they don't, they need to act like they do.

When we put our house on the market 3 years ago, we had my DH's best friend's dad come over because we thought we might list with him. I didn't want to, since this was a "2nd career to keep busy" and he wasn't really....keeping busy. But we felt we had to.

This guy had NOTHING good to say about our house. We lived in a very niche market - a small incorporated village with all its own services and school district. People who want to live there pay top dollar and know what they are getting in return. And our house was 100% updated, on the lower end of the market, we had just re-done the whole outside to improve curb appeal. And he kept saying things like "but you only have 3 bedrooms" (yes, and we plan to price accordingly); your driveway has cracks (whose doesn't here?) and so on. You get the picture. The last straw was when he was leaving, we walked him out and he saw a small dug up portion of our lawn and asked what it was. We told him the gas utility had been in and replaced everyone's gas lines. His response? "I don't see anyone else's line looking like this" (he must've been blind). At that point I excused myself and left DH with him and 10 minutes later DH came in and said "WE ARE NOT USING HIM!".

Long story short we went with a young (barely 30) agent in town who was making a name for himself. He loved our house, even told us how pleasantly surprised he was by how nice it was, couldn't wait to get it listed. House sold in 2 weeks.

Agent #1 wanted us to list for $719K and said we'd be lucky to get $700K as the "comps don't support it" (but he had no comps). Agent #2 came in with comps and we sold for $735K.

[1insider]

Try calling a few agents after hours and call a few offices on weekend afternoons. The ones that don't answer are immediately out of the running.

[Bill Keegan]

Originally Posted by 1insider

Try calling a few agents after hours and call a few offices on weekend afternoons. The ones that don't answer are immediately out of the running.

Because you want an agent who is either not busy at all, or willing to put their current clients aside for a few minutes to take a call if it might mean more new business, instead of letting it go to voice mail and then returning the call when they are finished with the current client. Sure, that makes sense.

[Rakin]

Originally Posted by 1insider

Try calling a few agents after hours and call a few offices on weekend afternoons. The ones that don't answer are immediately out of the running.

Keep in mind agents do have a life also, they could be at church or a family dinner. If you call an agent after hours, leave a message and see how fast they respond. You call at 9:30 at night, hopefully they call back the next morning.

Being in a city that is 24/7 our office is open 7 days a week but there are many small - mid size towns where Sunday and even many Saturdays is very limited.


Keep it all local and reasonable.

[tomocox]

Originally Posted by 1insider

Try calling a few agents after hours and call a few offices on weekend afternoons. The ones that don't answer are immediately out of the running.

This is totally wrong! The very best of agents are those who control their time. They are highly organized, and they understand managed time is productive time.

Just because you are free on the weekends or evenings doesn't mean that REALTORS shouldn't have their weekends free too.

I am certainly aware that banker's hours are as gone with the wind as thousand page MLS books, but one movement we are seeing in the business is the rise of teams. A promise of being a team member is the promise of time to enjoy living while making a living.

[Silverfall]

Originally Posted by 1insider

Try calling a few agents after hours and call a few offices on weekend afternoons. The ones that don't answer are immediately out of the running.

In my city you would rule out most of the good agents then. No one should hire a stressed out agent with no boundaries. They will burn out and provide you with crappy service. You want an agent that is organized and can manage their time so they can give you well rested, thoughtful advice on selling your home and negotiations.