When buying or selling a home, hiring a real estate agent is very often an overlooked part of the process, said Carol Yancey of Nothnagle Realtors. Very often people just select a friend or call someone whose name they have seen around town on a sign.
With the busy spring season almost upon us, buyers and sellers now in the midst of interviewing agents. But with almost 3,000 Realtors in the greater Rochester region, how do you choose? Yancey and Amy Petrone of ReMax Realty Group offer these six tips.
1. Look for negotiating skills. Don’t hire a “yes” man or woman, Petrone said. If they are saying yes to everything about your home, they may not be telling you the truth. Don’t hire an agent just because he or she will list your home at a higher price than the other agents. Ask to see how they came up with that price.
2. Full-time or part-time agent? Many people underestimate how much time is actually involved in promoting a successful real estate sale and purchase, Yancey said.
You need to make sure the agent you hire has the availability and the flexibility to handle the time commitment that goes along with this job, she said. If they are part time and working another job, will they be able to handle your inquiries? The market right now is a sellers' market, with houses at certain price levels selling same day due to low inventory.
3. Referrals and references. Ask your friends for referrals, Yancey suggested. They will be sure to let you know of their experience with the agent who listed or sold them their home. Did they communicate effectively, did they negotiate well, did they offer great advice? Was the transaction timely? Take it one step further: Ask the agents you are interviewing for references, and call them.
4. Specialization. Many agents specialize in certain price ranges and styles of homes, Petrone said. Ask them whether they have sold other high-end homes if this is your price range. Or find out if they have done a short-sale or foreclosure before if you are in this situation. Seek out a professional who can use their expertise to assist you with your specific needs.
5. Marketing. Ask the agents to present to you a clear plan of how they will market your home, Yancey said.
You want someone that has lots of tools and know how to use them — someone who is web-savvy, she said.
You want someone that will include lead generation as part of their marketing plan, she added. That means actively prospecting and reaching out to the community through door knocking and phone calls, prospecting to find buyers for your sellers and to find sellers for your buyers.
6. Friends and family. It is understandable that if you have a friend or family member in real estate, you’d like to give them the opportunity to sell your home. Yancey said. She recommends going through the process of interviewing them and a couple of other agents.
You want to choose the best fit for you. If they are a true professional, they will welcome the opportunity to interview and earn your business, she said.
With the busy spring season almost upon us, buyers and sellers now in the midst of interviewing agents. But with almost 3,000 Realtors in the greater Rochester region, how do you choose? Yancey and Amy Petrone of ReMax Realty Group offer these six tips.
1. Look for negotiating skills. Don’t hire a “yes” man or woman, Petrone said. If they are saying yes to everything about your home, they may not be telling you the truth. Don’t hire an agent just because he or she will list your home at a higher price than the other agents. Ask to see how they came up with that price.
2. Full-time or part-time agent? Many people underestimate how much time is actually involved in promoting a successful real estate sale and purchase, Yancey said.
You need to make sure the agent you hire has the availability and the flexibility to handle the time commitment that goes along with this job, she said. If they are part time and working another job, will they be able to handle your inquiries? The market right now is a sellers' market, with houses at certain price levels selling same day due to low inventory.
3. Referrals and references. Ask your friends for referrals, Yancey suggested. They will be sure to let you know of their experience with the agent who listed or sold them their home. Did they communicate effectively, did they negotiate well, did they offer great advice? Was the transaction timely? Take it one step further: Ask the agents you are interviewing for references, and call them.
4. Specialization. Many agents specialize in certain price ranges and styles of homes, Petrone said. Ask them whether they have sold other high-end homes if this is your price range. Or find out if they have done a short-sale or foreclosure before if you are in this situation. Seek out a professional who can use their expertise to assist you with your specific needs.
5. Marketing. Ask the agents to present to you a clear plan of how they will market your home, Yancey said.
You want someone that has lots of tools and know how to use them — someone who is web-savvy, she said.
You want someone that will include lead generation as part of their marketing plan, she added. That means actively prospecting and reaching out to the community through door knocking and phone calls, prospecting to find buyers for your sellers and to find sellers for your buyers.
6. Friends and family. It is understandable that if you have a friend or family member in real estate, you’d like to give them the opportunity to sell your home. Yancey said. She recommends going through the process of interviewing them and a couple of other agents.
You want to choose the best fit for you. If they are a true professional, they will welcome the opportunity to interview and earn your business, she said.
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