Interview several agents - this in and of itself won’t help you if you don’t research what to ask or what you want. Different properties will have different marketing and service requirements. Generally the more money you want or the more difficult the property is to sell the more marketing and service you require. Ask the agents you interview:
-How exactly will they advertise your home? What will they do in addition to placing your home on the MLS® system? When a buyer clicks for more info on http://www.realtor.ca/ do they go to the agents home page or a web site specifically for your home?
-Ask for references and touch base with the people given as references.
-Ask to see samples of current listings and the marketing materials.
-Check out their listings on line. How are the pictures? Are they putting in lots of content or just doing the minimum
-Can you find their website easily? Think like a buyer, how would they find your home? Try it yourself.
-Ask for a list of services that will be provided and ask them to incorporate them into the written service agreement. If your agent doesn’t provide the services you are looking for then at least you’ll know, and you can decide whether or not you want to use them.
-Ask friends and family for referrals, and ask why they liked the agent.
-Ask for the listings to sales ratio... just because an agent has a lot of listings doesn't mean they all sell.
-Ask who you will be dealing with during the listing - will the agent answer questions and negotiate on your behalf or will someone else step in?
-What kind of reporting do they provide? Ask to see an example of an update they sent to a client.
-Make a list of your expectations, and ask if the agent will provide all the services you expect.
-Ask if they offer a service guarantee. What if you are unhappy - will they cancel the agreement and if so, do they charge a fee for cancellations?
As with any agreement you want to enter it with your eyes wide open, instead of just assuming things will turn out the way you expect.
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