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Selecting a Real Estate Agent

A good real estate agent earns every penny of their commission. Do not try to negociate a lower commission, instead negociate a top-notch selling strategy!

Make a list of potential agents to interview

1. Go for a walk in your neighborhood. Write down the names of agents currently listing homes in your neighborhood. If possible talk to the home owners. Ask if they are satisfied with the service they are recieving. If any of these agents look promising, add them to your list of agents to interview.

2. Talk to your friends or relatives who have recently moved. Ask them to describe their experience. What went well, what didn't. Would they recommend their agent again? Add potential agent's names to your list.

3. Go to a few open houses in your home's price range. Talk to the real estate agents. Are they interested in the home they are showing, or do they look bored? Are they excited about the neighborhood? If any of these agents look promising, add them to your list of agents to interview.

4. Look at the current house ads in the newspaper. Which agents stand out? Which ones are making their listings look good? If any of these agents look promising, add them to your list of agents to interview.

Check out the following website. Click on "Consumer Information". There is a great pdf file available to download about "Selling a home in British Columbia". This is worth reading before you start calling prospective agents. Real Estate Council of British Columbia: "The Council is a regulatory agency established by the provincial government. In conjunction with the Superintendent of Real Estate, its mandate is to protect the public by enforcing the licensing and licensee conduct requirements of the Real Estate Act. The Council is responsible for licensing real estate agents and salespersons, enforcing entry qualifications, investigating complaints against licensees and imposing disciplinary sanctions under the Real Estate Act." - from the Real Estate Council of BC

What to expect from your real-estate agent...

These are some of the things that you can expect from your real estate agent...

1. Market evaluation of your home: This should include comparisons of other homes recently sold in your neighborhood and current market trends.
   
   
2. Suggestions to improve value of your home: Some agents are kind of shy about doing this.
   
   
3. List your home: This includes completing the paperwork to list your home, a place good quality "For Sale" sign (if you wish), and a lock box for your door.
   
   
4. Photograph your home: Exterior and interior pictures of your home are very important. These photos need to be professional and not cheap looking. Ask to see the pictures of how your home will be presented. DO NOT accept blurry, poorly lit pictures, these reflect badly on your home and a potential buyer may skip your home due to the quality of the pictures. Your real estate agent may also arrange for video footage of your home. Many people are using the Internet to shop for their homes. 360 degree video footage will give your home an advantage.
   
   
5. Place your home into www.msl.ca website: Four photos of your home are allowed on this website, ensure your agent provides four GOOD photographs. It is amazing the number of homes with NO photos, one blurry photo, or even duplicate photos that are shown on mls.ca. With the number of people who use mls.ca to shop for a home, this is NOT acceptable. Agent to place his/her website name, and email address on the MLS.ca listing for your home. This is essential, as a potential buyer will want to see more than four photos of a home they are interested in. With a single click of their mouse, a buyer should be able to access your agent's personal website to view more information about your home.
   
   
6. Advertise your home: in newspaper ads (locally and out of city if your home may be attractive for out of city buyers), Internet ads, and perhaps even radio ads. Not just once either, but several times to ensure your home is exposed to the marketplace.
   
   
7. Agent Open House: Agent to coordinate an open house of your home with other agents. This is important so that all agents know what type of homes are in the market place.
   
   
8. Coordinate showings of your home with potential buyers: Agent to ensure that home is secured again after showings.
   
   
9. Weekly summary: of showings and comments about the home.
   
   
10. Stay in Contact: during followup and closing. Notify you if they go on holidays and who the new contact agent will be (including their phone number).
    
    

Interviewing potential real estate agents

Do not be intimidated by your listing agent. Remember, you pay the real estate agent. If you meet with a real estate agent who cannot sit down with you and have a friendly professional discussion about your home and your expectations, then invite that agent to leave and call a new one. Trust me, there are many good ones to choose from. Select an individual that you can work with who will sell your home to the best of his or her ability.

1. Appearance: Does the agent look neat, organized, and have papers in order? Or does he or she look frazzled, running behind, and stuff is falling out of his folders? Take a peek at his car as well.
   
   
2. Inquiries: Can the agent respond to emails? faxes? computer knowledgable? Do they promptly return calls?
   
   
3. Performance: Ask how long they have been liscenced. How many homes have they sold in the past few months.
   
   
4. Discuss your home: Determine market value for your home. Ask to see comparibles of what has recently sold in your neighborhood.
   
   
5. Selling Process: Explains the selling process, the forms, the offer, and acceptance or rejection of an offer.
   
   
6. Selling Strategy: Describe their selling strategy. What type of advertising do they do. What type of photos do they take. Will your home be shown and described in a professional manner?
   
   
7. Examples: Look at the other listings the agent has - are they shown professionally? Many people are moving to the Okanagan Valley area from out of province. They are looking for homes via the internet. Will they be able to find your home complete with professional photos and accurate descriptions? Ask to see examples of their photos. Some agents are using poor quality cameras which result in poor quality photos for advertising and the Internet. Ask to see an example of their spec sheets. Are they professional or simply "good enough"? Ask to see their website. Is it up to date? Is it easy to find the listings? Do a search for their name in google.com. Does your agent's website come up? Ask to see their business card. Does it have several contact phone numbers, a fax number, email address, and their website address?
   
   
8. Personality: Is this person someone you can work with, talk to, confide in regarding the sale of your home? Does this person seem like a good negociator? Remember, this person works for you.
   
   

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