Your real estate agent's key objective is to sell your home quickly at the best possible price. It's a good idea to interview at least two agents before committing to a listing contract.
Cartus will appoint a trained and qualified agent to provide you with a Brokers Market Analysis and a written marketing strategy.
Your agent, typically, will have more than three years of full-time experience, know your neighborhood well, be a member of the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), and be able to demonstrate a history of results.
- Ask your agent for his or her track record in your price range and neighborhood; compare list prices to sale prices and the time it took the broker to sell a home.
- Find out how many listings expired without selling and the reasons why. It's a good gauge of an agent's dedication to marketing your home aggressively.
- Make sure that your agent will formulate a detailed marketing plan that reflects actions to be taken in 30-, 60-, and 90-day intervals; include a contingency plan should the home remain unsold beyond that time.
- Ask specifically how the agent plans to advertise your home.
It's the real estate agent's job to:
- Represent you, the seller
- Help you determine the value of your home and establish an asking price
- Provide fix-up tips
- Market the property in the most professional and efficient way
- Advertise and market the property on an ongoing basis
- Act as a liaison between other brokers and prospective buyers
- Relate all feedback from showings
- Submit all offers
- Help you negotiate with the buyer
- Remain actively involved, from contract to closing
- Follow through on inspections, contingencies, and mortgage commitments
Before signing a listing contract:
- Have your agent prepare a written marketing plan, which schedules agent previews, office tours, ad placement, open houses, etc. for the first 30 days.
- Get a Broker's Price Opinion (the broker's considered opinion of the lowest and highest prices that your home may bring on the open market).
- Verify commission amounts.
