15 Suggestions, To Help You Find The Best Agent
To Get Your Home “SOLD!” How Do “You” Find AnAgent?
Most people ask for recommendations, some of the most successful agents get that way because of referrals. Start by asking your friends, and neighbors, co-workers, family, community members “who they have used in the past”, and how successful their experiences were. But you should also check their suggestions through the Internet. Do those agents have a web presence? Do they, as agents have their own website? Do they contribute locally with a Blog.
“Word of mouth’ advertising is great! But, that only works, if the agent has a large circle of friends or a large buyer pool. You need more than the average or good agent may have. You need a well connected, and networked agent. One that is well known locally, because Real Estate is Local! But you also need an agent that is connected to other agents locally, in different Counties across the State, and Nationally! These networked agents present the best potential for bringing buyers to your home!, and getting it “Sold”.
Try visiting Open Houses in your Neighborhood
Open houses are an excellent scouting place for home owners looking for an agent to represent them, in the sale of their home, you can begin to interview an agent. Take notes on how well the agent is promoting the homes features. Is the agent knowledgeable about the: neighborhood amenities, competing homes, public transportation, and recent sales? Does the agent handout literature containing, information about the community, schools,property taxes, crime rate, or other valuable information? This is when you can begin to ask about what experience the agent has in the local market.
Notice 'For Sale' Signs in Your Community
You want an agent that is active in your neighborhood, or immediate area. Find an agent who sells homes quickly in your market (although they may not have an active listing in that area at the time) versus one who has several homes on the market for extended periods of time. Agents who market several homes which do not sell for several months are known as strict ? listers? They take listing on homes with the hope that other agents will sell them, or they “Buy the Listings” (Offer to list the home for more than the prepared CMA will justify, or to comply with the seller's wishes!) Not a wise decision by either party! Both suffer! Because they have lost the "Initial impact!" (Initial Impact of listings occures within the first 15 Days!). Now all they can do is "Chase the Market!", by lowering the Price!, as the house stagnates with added Days on Market.
Search “Online” for Top Agents
Don’t refer to those directories, which list agents for a fee. Find individual profiles on some of the busiest and best agents in your local market. Search the Internet!, Check out how many different sites the agent you were referred to shows up on a search for their name? Check to see if it is a profile page or if it is something the agent has contributed to, like a blog. And check to see how many different sites the agent is mentioned on.
Seek out agents who have multiple transactions under their belts and start a list of agents you want to interview. Before you check the weekend paper for agents who advertise, many homes in your community, as they might be top producers in your market. Check to see if they have a website, Do they have an Internet presence?( as stated earlier) ***Over 80% of buyers are searching the Internet first to find their next home.***
You want to “Work With” the most Networked and Connected agent in the community, so begin with some basic questions.
- How many active Listings will the agent service at one time?
- Does the agent work Full Time?
- Does the agent have a personal assistant?
- Does the agent have office support if needed?
- What are the agents “number of listings closed” and “buying sides closed”, per year, over the past few years?
- How many “Days on the market” for those listings?
- Does he or she represent more buyers or sellers?
- What is the agent’s average time frame to sell a home in the current market, since today’s market is much different than that prior to late 2007 or mid 2008?
- Will all prospective buyers, be accompanied on showings, by the agent?
- Will buyers be pre-approved before viewing the home?
- What are the agent’s, guarantees, do they offer or have any?
- If you the seller are dissatisfied with the service can you get out of the listing contract with no penalty or cost?
- What resources will the agent use to market your home-newspaper, mailing, MLS, Internet- If so where can I see my home’s listings, and ask for all sites! It will appear on, etc.?
- Ask the agent you select: How long will it take to have pictures of my home visible on the Internet? And who will take the pictures? Will the agent utilize a service to ensure quality pictures depict the best portrayal of the home? ( It’s a fact!)
- 1) Homes with multiple pictures Sell quicker!
- 2) Homes get their Maximum exposure and most viewing within the first 15 days!"Initial Impact!", So if your agent doesn’t have pictures viewable immediately (within 24 hours), you are already losing potential buyers. And if they aren’t on the MLS system immediately you are losing other agents interest, and they will move on to other properties.
- What guidance will the agent provide once you have an offer?
Do Your Due Diligence! Use the Internet to Find “Your Agent” Since That Is Where Over 80% of Buyers are Looking! Pretend You are a Buyer?
If Buyer’s are searching for homes on the Internet first! Don’t you think, that would be a great place to find your agent? After all, if the buyer’s can’t find your home, then there is something wrong with the agent you’ve chosen.
In today’s Real Estate market, you want your agent to be found! They say Real Estate is “Local” and it is. That’s why some communities, are affected more than others, by the National or Regional Economy. Consequently you need an agent with massive Internet presence to help market your home to the greatest potential pool of buyers.
For more of my thoughts on Real Estate please visit my websites:
Http://www.ColumbusAreaHomesForSale.com Http://www.MartinSellsColumbus.com Http://www.TiptonLakesHomesForSale.com
You will also want to sign up for some of my Free Subscriptions!:
Selling Your Home as " For Sale By Owner" (FSBO)
Requirements For a Short Sale Package?
What You Need To Know When Buying a HUD Home?
Five Essentials for First Time Home Buyers
That's what you really want, Right?
You want to find the home that's right for you-at the right price.
You want to find a home by negotiating the best price, with the least hassle...And You Want Someone Who Can Get The Job Done Right!
Well You've Come To The Right Place!
You want Martin Dorgan as Your Realtor!
If I were writing for our Columbus newspaper "The Republic", or for the "Seymour Tribune". the headline would read "Market Plummets!" If I were writing for the Wall Street Journal, I would write, "The Market Signal is Buy!, Buy!, Buy!!!", But since I'm a Realtor , and Residential Real Estate Marketing Professional in South Central Indiana, my headline is:
Real Estate Market Shows Great Promise and Opportunity
Based on the following premises:
1. Housing in Indiana's South Central area is Affordable
2. Interest rates are the Best in Years!
3. Residential Lenders Have Money and Want to Lend it!
4. Good Selection of Housing Inventory
5. Excellent Time for 1st Time Buyers The $8,000. Tax Credit adds incentive!
6. Great Time for Move-Up Buyers The $6,500. Tax Credit adds incentive!
7. Great Opportunities for Investors Consider all the HUD Homes, Foreclosures, Short Sales, available on the market?
8. Most Sellers are Realistic in their Expectations
9. More Qualified Buyers are on the Horizon
10. 85% of People Still Believe Buying a Home is a Good Financial Decision and Investment
Now is a great time to expect anticipated stability in the overall marketplace, with the generally renewed confidence in the Office of the Presidency of the United States; lower gasoline prices, excellent interest rates; increased promise in entrepreneurial activities; and probable upcoming incentive programs for employment and business from Congress.
Now is a great time to stay positive, encourage others to do so, remain steadfast and be grateful for the bounties and gifts you possess. The fate of 2009 will be determined by preception, either positive or not so positive. Please, choose like me, to make 2010 a positive year, filled with anticipation for everyday success in all endeavours.
Just this weekend, I managed to Pend another one of my listings, maintaining my "Eleven Days on Market" goal, which I set for every listing I get. I admit it, I've got two other that didn't make the mark; but my average days on market is still Absolutely Wonderfull.
So if you are a FSBO; Have an Expired Listing; or Have Withdrawn your listing; or are a Seller considering listing your property call me, Today! Martin Dorgan MartinSellsColumbus, Martin Markets To Millions, And Sells For You!
Visit my website to see How I can Help You! http://www.columbusareahomesforsale.com or http://www.martinsellscolumbus.com
Martin Dorgan
Coldwell Banker
South Central Realty
1015 Third Street
Columbus Indiana, 47201
Office: 812-378-3331 ext.122
Cell: 812-603-1368
Website: http://www.columbusareahomesforsale.com
Active Rain Blog: http://activerain.com/blogs/martindorgan
XING Network: http://www.xing.com/go/invita/11704402
Spectacular Results! That's what you want! That's what you deserve! That's what you really want, Right?
You want to find the home that's right for you-at the right price. You want to find a home by negotiating the best price, with the least hassle...And You Want Someone Who Can Get The Job Done Right!
Well You've Come To The Right Place!
You want Martin Dorgan as Your Realtor!