| It's easy to find a real estate agent. Just put a | | | | 4. Do they do their own closings? Again, it may |
| for sale sign in the yard and wait for the phone | | | | be better for them to delegate this part of the |
| to ring. The question is, how do you find a GOOD | | | | process, but it isn't better for you. You want the |
| real estate agent? You can start with newspaper. | | | | same person to be there through the whole |
| Pick up the Saturday or Sunday paper - | | | | process. You want one person to call. Things go |
| whichever day they have all the homes for sale in | | | | wrong all the time in real estate, so don't |
| your area. You can also collect a few real estate | | | | complicate it further by having more people |
| guides to look through. Browse the listings to find | | | | involved. |
| properties similar to yours. If you are selling a | | | | Most real estate agents will probably argue these |
| cabin, you want to look for cabins for sale. If you | | | | points. That's okay, but be aware that there are |
| are selling a lakefront mansion, look for those. | | | | other things they won't tell you too. For example, |
| When you find similar properties, note the names | | | | did you know that open houses are primarily a |
| and numbers of the agents that are selling them. | | | | prospecting tool for real estate agents? In fact, |
| The idea here is to find a real estate agent that | | | | new agents (not the listing agent) are often given |
| has experience with your type of property. An | | | | the job of hosting your open house, so they can |
| agent that has all the million dollar homes may not | | | | find buyers to work with. It isn't expected that |
| be the best to sell your mobile home, for | | | | they will sell your house in the process. |
| example. You want agents that have sold or are | | | | Also understand that when you see ads for |
| selling several properties like yours. | | | | homes for sale, and they don't have prices, it is a |
| What To Ask A Real Estate Agent | | | | prospecting technique. When that buyer looking |
| 1. When you call the agents - and it's best to call | | | | for a $100,000 home calls on your $300,000 |
| several - you want to verify that they do have | | | | home, the agent isn't going to make him able to |
| experience selling properties like yours. Ask for | | | | afford your home. The whole point was to get |
| examples. | | | | him to call so he could sell him ANY home. |
| 2. Ask what they do to market a property. Any | | | | Meanwhile, other potential buyers for your home |
| agent can place an ad and put your home in the | | | | skipped over the ad - there are enough homes |
| multiple listings. Do they have existing leads - | | | | WITH prices to look at (insist that ads for your |
| people looking for properties like yours? Do they | | | | property have the price listed). |
| let other agents know about your property? | | | | Trust your intuition when choosing an agent. If |
| 3. Do they show their listings very often? Many | | | | you don't feel comfortable with an agent, it's |
| agents just list real estate for sale and let others | | | | possible potential buyers won't either. And ask the |
| sell it for them. It's more profitable for them, but | | | | right questions. You don't just want to find a real |
| not for you. If they are a good salesperson, you | | | | estate agent you like. You want to find the right |
| want them to be going through the house with | | | | agent for your property. |
| potential buyers. | | | | |