Sellers Beware...you get what you pay for!

Homeowners are constantly contacted by Real Estate companies telling them how wonderful their company is and what great deals they can offer. My advice is to remember you get what you pay for. We have all heard stories from friends or family about the agent that put the sign in the yard and disappeared. Well....when the agents cut his/her profits to be so low they can't afford to provide customer service or advertising. He/She has to move on and find another listing and then another and another. Once he/she has enough listings, he/she will then have a chance to make a little money.

Since selling a home is a huge decision and affects all aspects of our lives, we need to put our trust in someone that will be around to answer questions and that will care if our house sells or not. Contrary to popular opinion, houses do not sell themselves.

I work with a limited number of buyers and sellers at one time. The reason I do this is so I can provide exceptional customer service, advertise each house, and be there for my clients. Many people need guidance as to how to sell a house or if they should make repairs or even if they should move to their new home before their current one sells. There is much more to the decision of selling your home than a sign in the yard. So when you think of saving a few dollars in commission, make sure you understand the difference between full service Realtors and discount agents.

 Sellers....are you ready to have your house for sale in this tough market?

If you think you might be ready to put your house on the market, make sure you are ready to have buyers and agents enter the driveway. There are plenty of houses for sale, you have to make sure yours is the best and most appealing to buyers. Would you like to have a professional agent give you some advice? Feel free to give me a call. It pays to be prepared!!

A few questions to ask your potential Realtor:

Are you a Realtor or an agent?

A Realtor is a member of NAR and a local board. These agents are held to a higher standard and code of ethics. It costs the agent additional money to be an actual Realtor and member of a Board.

Are you full time or part time? Do you have another job?

This is important because you need your Realtor available to you at any time (within reason). If your Realtor is working 9-5 on another job, how are they focused on selling your home?  If the Realtor is full time they depend on the sale of your house to make any money, not a second job. In RE/MAX we don't get paid until we sell a house. This is a very good motivator! Part time agents may not have to work or might have other obligations that keep them from focusing on your house. Which would you rather have working for you so you can move on to your next home?

What is your commission and what do you do for that money?

The industry average for commissions is 6% of the sales price. Some are a little higher, 7%. For the commission you should have access to your agent on a regular basis, phone or email. Make sure your point of contact is not an assistant that just graduated from high school. Also, your house should be advertised with a strong marketing plan such as signs, lock box, flyers, and websites and printed materials. You want to make sure you are paying for a well planned marketing plan.

How many clients, buyers and sellers, do you work with at one time?

This is important because you want to make sure they do not forget you and your house. Many agents are very busy with many clients. This does not mean they won't do a good job. However, make sure you are comfortable with their expectations on how often you can contact them and actually speak to them. If you are a first time seller, you need to be able to ask all of those questions that will keep you up a night and get a straight and correct answer quickly. If you want constant updating and reporting of what is going on, you might want to find an agent that works with limited numbers to ensure great customer service.