5 Ways to choose a great estate agent!

Jonathan Broekman of Homes of Distinction agrees that choosing the right agent is a critical decision. It can be the difference between getting a great price for your home and set you up well for the next one, versus not selling your house at all.

First things first… decide on a sole or multiple mandate. You have to decide whether you are going for one or multiple agents. Unfortunately, owners often choose an open mandate when marketing their homes, believing that the more agents they have working on their property, the sooner they will achieve a good price for their house. In fact the reverse is often true, as no agent likes to spend time and money on a property they might not sell.

Under a sole mandate, both the agent and agency are contractually bound as well as personally motivated to market your home within the period of time laid out in the agreement, and secure the best possible price.

Find out more in our Why sign a SOLE Mandate article
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But how do you tell the difference between good agents and bad ones? 

1.
Shortlist potential agents:
Ask family, friends and neighbours for their experiences, good and bad – it’s always good to have a personal recommendation.

2.
Agent’s Experience:
Compare local estate agents based on the facts: how quickly do they sell, how close they come to achieving asking price, and how successful they are. Make sure the agent has experience of selling property like yours – and the best way to do  that is to check there are properties similar to yours on their site. 

3.
Are they professional?
Do they seem competent? Are you impressed? Trust your gut feeling when meeting an agent, if you feel comfortable and you can relate to the person then half your battle is won. Look at the other properties that agents market online – are the pictures well-taken, and the descriptions clear, enticing, and relevant? A good agent will invest in marketing to ensure they get the best price, while a poor one will just wait for customers to come to them.

4.
How will they Market your Property?
Make sure they have a solid marketing strategy that gives your property maximum exposure.
Is it important for you to have your property in the newspaper or are you more interested in an online marketing approach?
Do they use social media to push your property out there?

5.
How much do they cost?
A good agent may ask for a higher comission but it's like anything in life, you pay for what you get. If you want the agent motivated to earn that comission they will go out of their way to earn it. Make a commitment to one agent and pay the comission they deserve. Selling property is not as easy as it looks.

Narrow your choices down to a shortlist of about three and invite them to do a valuation, after they value your property ask them to explain their reasoning. Remember that while it is ultimately your decision what to market your property for, a good agent will have their finger on the current pulse of the market, and be able to advise you accordingly and realistically. When push comes to shove, it might suit you better to accept a lower but speedier cash offer, versus waiting for the right buyer if you are in no rush. 

Ultimately, choosing an agent is a personal choice. Jonathan, with his 30 odd years of experience in the industry, believes that a good agent needs to inspire trust and confidence in you immediately, so that you can relax and let them handle this stressful time for you.
When finally signing a contract remember that if you don’t understand something, ask. If you are not happy in any way, do not sign the contract. Any good agent will be patient enough to explain the contract at length to you, and put any ill ease to rest.

Good luck!

Why not choose Homes of Distinction when selling your property...

Homes of Distinction has been successfully employing an online marketing, SEO and social media strategy for several years now, with a large increase in clicks on our website and your properties. We can assure you that you cannot afford to fall behind the curve here, no matter what your business is!

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www.homesofdistinction.co.za