Palencia How to Select the Best Agent

How to Select a Superb Real Estate Agent

     It can be argued that selecting a real estate agent who is a good match for your needs is the single most important decision you’ll make when it comes to the sale of your house. Why is this? If you choose wisely and rely upon your agent’s advice and experience, he/she will guide towards making wise decisions with every other aspect of your home’s sale.   You’ll be rewarded with a smoother selling process. Furthermore, a good agent will provide you with prompt and professional service. Best of all, you are more likely to receive a competitive price for your home with a skilled agent in your corner.   In contrast, if you choose an unskilled agent, it will not only cost you time and money, but you will also find the selling process frustrating and emotionally draining.    For this reason, choose your agent carefully and wisely.

     In this section, you will find some helpful tips for selecting an agent who will provide you with the service and expertise you need to get your home sold at a competitive price.   If you follow these tips, you are more apt to select an agent who will serve your needs well.

Traits of a Superb Real Estate Agent

     Honesty & Personal Integrity   First and foremost, you should select an agent who is honest and demonstrates sound ethical standards in dealing with clients. The sale of your home represents a huge financial transaction; perhaps the largest you’ll make for years to come.   Select an agent who is trustworthy. Find one who is willing to be completely candid with you regarding all aspects of your home’s sale. You’ll want an agent who has the strength of character to give you straight talk and not just tell you what you want to hear. When you, the homeowner, are willing to hear honest feedback, even if it is not pleasant, you are gaining the benefit of an agent’s experience and expertise.

     Dependability   Use an agent who is dependable; this is absolutely essential. You want an agent who is going to stick with you throughout the entire listing period and be by your side right to closing day.   Some agents will list a home and then, for all practical purposes... vanish! We call these individuals, “secret agents”. The client never knows where the agent is or what they are doing. Avoid this kind of agent! Instead, employ an agent who follows through with promises and promptly returns your calls. You also want an agent who will stay in contact with you and keep you updated on the progress of their marketing actions for your house. Once a contract is in place for your home, you need an agent who will stay on top of things and keep you informed on the progress of the sale’s closing.   Dependability is essential!

     Motivation   Give me an agent who is eager and motivated! Experience and ability are important, but they mean nothing if the agent isn’t motivated and energized to sell.   Motivation = action!   And it takes action to sell a home. It is not a passive activity. When selecting an agent, pay particular attention to the plan of action they propose. Does this agent come across as motivated and determined to get results for you? Take a look at an agent’s marketing plan. Does it make sense? Is the agent over-promising or does the plan seem doable? Go with an agent who makes sense and who is a go-getter. Find that agent who is eager to spring into action to get results. It’s your house and your money. Make sure the agent you select is motivated to get the job done!

     Knowledge & Experience    Selling a home is no time for amateurs. You need an agent who is experienced and possesses an in-depth knowledge of residential real estate. This knowledge should include: a) negotiating and communication skills, b) a knack for solving problems, c) insight about how to successfully market a home, d) a thorough understanding of current real estate trends in your neighborhood. An in-depth knowledge of your community is very important. Residential real estate is extremely community oriented.   Marketing tactics and pricing strategies will vary from community to community, so you’ll want to use an agent who specializes in your local area. Don’t select an agent whose normal area of operations is too far from your house. A long distance real estate agent often translates to an “out of sight - out of mind” attitude.   You don’t want this!

     Intelligence   The best real estate agents are resourceful and can think on their feet.   These agents tend to be good problem solvers. Don’t underestimate the importance of problem solving. It is the rare real estate transaction that does not have at least one or two major problems that need to be resolved for the deal to close.   Problems can quickly unravel a deal if they are not immediately resolved. Look for an agent who is proactive and who will be quick to tackle problems before they escalate.

     First Class Service and Support    Pay close attention to this section. When you select an agent, you are also selecting their broker’s support staff. You will be relying upon their broker’s services. As such, it is important that your agent’s brokerage provide service and support that is professional and consummate.   When your home goes on the market prospective buyers and other real estate agents will be calling your agent’s office to inquire about your house and to make appointments to view it. Most of those calls will be taken by the support staff and on duty agents. For this reason, you want to make sure the support team at your agent’s home office is first class.   It can negatively affect the sale of your home if your agent’s brokerage is not professional and fails to properly handle all inquiries about your house. When interviewing a prospective agent, ask him or her about their brokerage and the kind of support they will provide.

     EXCEPTONAL ABILITY   Exceptional ability is the sum of all the preceding traits listed in this section.   An agent is highly proficient in their trade when they are able to combine personal integrity with dependability, motivation, knowledge, experience, intelligence, first class service, and a superb support staff. Put all these traits together and you have an exceptional agent representing you and your home. No agent, regardless of how talented they may be, can work miracles and make the impossible occur. However, if you select a highly proficient and exceptionally capable individual, you can expect superior results. In every community, there are always a few select agents who seem to rise to the top. They can provide you with this kind of first class performance.  Find one of these agents and use their talents and abilities!

Julington Creek Plantation, Julington Creek, JPC, Homes Sale, Julington Creek Home Prices, Jacksonville FL 32259, Denise Bash, JCP, NW St Johns County, Riveroaks Plantation

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