8 Little-Known Ways to Find a Quality Listing Agent in Your City
You’re standing at an open house. In the back of your mind, you also know you have a home to sell. Suddenly, you’re bombarded by a pushy sales pitch and uncomfortable questions about your moving plans. You think to yourself: This is why many people dread finding a listing agent.
And you wouldn’t be wrong. The quest to find the right listing agent can be fraught with stress and pressure. However, have faith — there are some amazing agents out there who will help you maximize your home’s value and navigate selling obstacles. Research from HomeLight shows that the best agents are worth their salt, helping to sell homes for as much as 10% more than the average agent.
What’s more, improvements like client reviews on the web and public sales histories have made it a whole lot easier to find the gems. So, skip the open house hopping, put on your research cap, and follow these tips on how to find a listing agent who you can be sure checks all your boxes.
1. Focus on the agent, not the brokerage
Do you see a ton of Coldwell Banker, Keller Williams, or RE/MAX signs in your neighborhood? Some real estate franchisors may have more prominent branding in your city than others, making you inclined to trust a certain office simply because you’re more familiar with the name.
While certain brokerages do offer better training and tools to their agents, it doesn’t always translate directly as a better listing experience because real estate agents are independent contractors, not employees. So, the quality of the service you receive is going to depend more on the individual agent. Focus on what the agent brings to the table, rather than which office they’re part of, as you make your decision.
2. Watch out for the ‘all sizzle, no steak’ sales pitch
Some agents will appear engaged and enthusiastic to help you, until you sign the listing agreement. Then, they become mysteriously difficult to get a hold of. Others might communicate well but let you down when it comes to market knowledge or business acumen, leaving you with a lot of “what ifs” after a rocky sale.
Once you sign the listing agreement, you’re usually giving the agent the exclusive right to sell your home for the next two to six months. That makes it difficult, legally, to fire this agent and get a new one, which can really set you back.
So, avoid signing with an agent on the spot. Instead, listen to their pitch and let them offer you their information. This gives you a chance to do your homework. You can always get back in touch after you’ve done more research.
