Ready To List With A Real Estate Agent? 13 Things
Your Agent Must Do To Maximize Your Profits!
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| Top Producers will have established relationships with lenders, title reps, inspectors... everything. |
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Ready to place your home on the market? Do you understand the
process of selling your home - all the “little” details? Before
you list with an agent, educate yourself about all the possible things
you could face. Be as informed as possible, so you can make the
absolute best business decision. After all, the sale of your home
is a business decision.
Most of us are not tuned in to the trends and fluctuations of the real
estate market. Additionally, we are not aware of the steps
necessary to maximize profits from the sale of our home.
Typically, you rely heavily on an agent to lead you down the most
profitable path. Well, when you consider your home is probably
your largest financial asset, doesn’t it make sense to list with
someone who will maximize your profits? But how do you 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 involved you become, the
better chance you have of choosing the right agent and consequently,
the higher your profits will be!
Start by doing some research. Who are the most active agents 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.
1. The Phone Interview-
Place a call to each of the agents on your list. Document how
quickly they returned your call; keep in mind, 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.
2. Request a Complete Plan- From title to escrow, request a complete plan of all the services they will provide you when you list with them.
3. Evaluate Their Team-
Top producers will have established relationships with lenders, title
reps, inspectors, etc. These professionals are there for your
benefit. If they are ill-prepared to handle all the steps of your
transaction, look elsewhere!
4. Detailed Report of your Property-
Request a complete report about your property with ideas for
improvements, cosmetic changes, structural repairs or anything that
could add profit to your sale. Remember, a small investment up
front can often pay high dividends at the time of sale.
5. Alternative Report-
Request a complete report of alternatives to the home sale. What
would
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| Insist upon innovation. The top producers outperform the competition by utilizing unique and powerful marketing methods. |
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current market leases generate? Rentals? Responsibilities
attached with leasing? Have your agent educate you about all your
options.
6. Insist on Pre-qualification-
Don’t waste valuable time negotiating or showing your property to
unqualified prospects. Insist that your agent pre-qualify
candidates to screen out all unwanted prospects.
7. A Net Sheet- See in writing a complete net sheet, minus commissions and fees, showing your exact proceeds at the time of sale.
8. A Marketing Plan-
This is the heart of your agent’s overall strategy. Require a
step-by-step plan with innovative new ways to attract home
buyers. Your agent should have 24-hour advertising, lead
accountability and tracking services. These services exist and
you should insist upon them!
9. Telemarketing Efforts-
Investigate the agent’s telemarketing team. Do they just cold
call? Or do they have a strategy to create proactive leads and
call on those prospects.
10. Direct Mail-
Investigate the agent’s capacity to send direct mail. How often
do prospects receive mail? Is it professional? Does the
mail piece motivate prospects to pick up the phone and call?
11. Advertising- Is it
well-written and professional? How many ad venues 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.
12. 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 very true in real estate. Insist on a sound negotiation
strategy before you entertain buyers.
13. 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.
My hope with this report has been to educate you and help you avoid the
pitfalls many home sellers go through. If there is ever any way I
can be of service to you or anyone you care about, please contact
me. Your initial consultation is always completely free of charge
and you’re under no obligation of any kind. We’ll sit down for
15-20 minutes... no high-pressure, just plain, honest talk about what
it’s going to take to achieve your personal goals. Go ahead, pick
up the phone and give me a call. I’d love to hear from you!
718-344-6024.
