Selling a home in today’s market has put homeowners at an advantage more than ever. So the last thing you want is to take that power away by hiring a listing agent who doesn’t deliver all that you need and deserve.
Here are 7 signs that, if you see them or feel them in your gut, it’s time to move on to another listing agent before you lose out.
Bad First Impression
This is everything in life and business, especially in the competitive real estate market. Selling your home is a huge, stressful process, so you want to have a listing agent by your side you feel comfortable with and can rely on because every step is time-sensitive. Statistics show that, 90 percent of the time, you can get the right or wrong feeling after your first meeting. Industry experts recommend interviewing at least three different agents before deciding on the one.
Bad People Skills
Real estate agents work with people all the time, every day! It’s essential for a listing agent to be personable, and to have good conversational skills with clients and vendors. That means getting to know what you want in this home selling experience, to have your best interests in mind, and to truly listen to all your needs and wants.
Lack of Local Knowledge
It’s imperative for a listing agent to know the local neighborhoods they serve, along with the value of comparable homes, plus what is in proximity to their client’s home, such as shops, restaurants, medical centers, grocery stores, schools and highways. A listing agent should be able to give you a valuable perspective, which normally comes from an agent who actually lives and works in the community.
Lack of Experience in Selling Your Type of Home at Your Price Range
It’s a bad sign if your agent is not experienced in selling your type of home listing – and there are so many different styles of homes out there on the market! With that said, you want your listing agent to be well-versed in attracting that target buyer for your type of home and at your price range. Do your homework and research or ask how many homes the agent has sold in that particular price range
Lack of Experience Overall
Before you get into the specifics of your needs and your home style, make sure your listing agent has the basics to practice real estate, like an actual license that isn’t expired or fraudulently listed on LinkedIn. Lack of experience could also be revealed in their lack of or minimal amount of reviews online, as well as their inability to answer your questions – instead, deflecting or ignoring them altogether.
They Aren’t There for You
It’s a bad sign if your agent keeps missing your call, and doesn’t return it. This unresponsiveness is unacceptable in a hot market because you could miss out because your agent, or your agent’s assistant, wasn’t there for your best interest. The listing agent should also make sure you and your home are completely prepared before showings ensue. Another element of this reliability is your agent’s willingness to be flexible; they might be busy, but they shouldn’t be too busy to make their clients a priority.
They Aren’t at Their Best at The Closing
The closing, and the negotiations leading up to that day, are hyper-critical nowadays, whether you are a buyer or seller. In this hot real estate market, you need to have a listing agent who can really think outside the box to get a seller’s maximum price point, such as knowing how to negotiate inspections, final walk-throughs, offers, or waive contingencies. The agent should also know when it’s the right to reduce the price if necessary, not immediately encourage you to raise the price for a higher commission.
Are you ready to sell your home? Because of today’s competitive market, you’ll want Paige Bird as your listing agent to sell your home fast and at the price you deserve. Paige is one of the top selling agents in the area, and #1 in the state as a REMAX agent. Contact Paige Bird today so she can sit down with you to get started in the home selling process at 843.450.4773.
