How to Choose a Real Estate Agent for Selling Your Home: A 10-Step Checklist
Selling a home is one of the most important financial transactions of your life. But if you’re selling for the first time, or if it’s been a while since you’ve dipped your toes into the deep end of the real estate market pool, you may be wondering how to choose a real estate agent for selling your house.
According to HomeLight’s data, the top 5% of real estate agents across the U.S. sell homes for as much as 10% more than the average real estate agent.
“This is the biggest asset that most people have. It’s going to be the biggest sale they ever have,” shares Mark Boyland, a top real estate agent in Scotts Corners, New York, who’s ranked in the top 1% of real estate agents in the Hudson Gateway Multiple Listing System since 1995. “It’s important that [sellers] get the best representation when they’re going to do that.”
But with over 1.5 million real estate agents in the U.S., picking the right agent can feel, well, overwhelming. To help simplify the process and guide you through a smooth, profitable home-selling experience, we’ve vetted expert advice from top real estate professionals and created this 10-step guide to picking your perfect agent.
1. Compare agents online
There’s no shortage of online resources for researching agents. But how can you ensure you’re choosing a top agent?
An easy way to find highly rated agents in your area is HomeLight’s free Agent Match tool. Our matching platform analyzes over 27 million transactions and considers an agent’s specialties and certifications, their years of experience, and their successful home sales in your neighborhood. Each agent is at the top of their field, so you can be confident that they’ll help you maximize your profit.
Each suggested agent is proven to outperform other agents in their area for properties similar to yours by measurable factors including:
High volume of home sales in your price range
High sale-to-list price ratio
Lower than average days on market
Top-rated client reviews
Once you’ve selected a few agents online, scope out their websites, social media, reviews, property listings, and more to see how they professionally market themselves. Their online presence may also provide a further look into their personalities and show whether they’re using current technology and trends.
For a deeper dive, Google each agent’s name and read additional reviews wherever you can. Notice which positive qualities are mentioned repeatedly and see how the agent responds to any negative reviews.
