How to find an agent as a first-time seller
Selling a home for the first time can be a complicated and overwhelming process. Having a reliable real estate agent at your side can make a substantial difference in how smoothly the whole process will run.“Real estate agents will not only help you price the home correctly and find qualified buyers for your home, but they can also provide helpful information around current market trends, translate industry jargon, negotiate on your behalf, and can often recommend adjacent services such as bond originators and moving companies. The sooner you bring them on board, the better,” says Adrian Goslett, Regional Director and CEO of RE/MAX of Southern Africa.
With so much riding on choosing the right professional for this task, it can be challenging for a first-time seller to know how to select the right agent. To help make this journey a little easier, RE/MAX of Southern Africa shares the following tips...
Find reliable recommendations
Nothing beats a recommendation from somebody you trust. If nobody within your inner circle has sold recently, then look around to see what agent is selling the most homes in your area. You’re usually able to tell by their yard signs and marketing presence who does the most business within any given area. Online client reviews and testimonials can also help provide an indication of an agent’s level of service delivery.
Set up an ‘interview’
To make sure you’re a compatible match, it can help to meet the agent in person (or virtually, if you’re coming in from far away). Before this meeting, an agent might ask for a copy of your ID as a safety precaution – this is totally normal and can actually be an indication that this agent is thorough and well prepared. When meeting with them, a few questions worth asking might be:
• Are they a full-time real estate agent?
• How long have they worked as an agent and within this particular market?
• What is their preferred communication platforms and how regularly can you expect updates from them?
• What will they charge in commission and how negotiable are they on this?
Check their credentials
One should always remain vigilant against con artists and make sure that the agent is actually who they claim to be. Ask them to share a copy of their licence to make sure that they are registered. To play it safe, you could also start your search for a real estate agent by looking through the website of a reputable real estate brand like RE/MAX. That way you know that the agent comes from a reliable background.
“With the guidance of a trusted RE/MAX agent, you're well-equipped to navigate the complexities of selling your property as a first-time seller,” Goslett concludes.