CHAPTER 5 Choosing the Right Agent ht Agent
Selling a residential property involves more than 100 people with different skills and expertise who participate in the transaction from start to finish. Whether it is for a home inspection or a title search, it takes more than 20 steps to finalize the sale of your home. A knowledgeable real estate professional can make the process much easier by being well-versed in all phases of real estate. You do not need real estate expertise if you engage a real estate professional who has it. Choosing the best real estate agent for you can be problematic. Friends’ and relatives’ recommendations and references are valuable. A friend might recommend an agent because that agent was able to sell the house for 20% more than hoped for (but would be wrong for you, as you are unfamiliar with your neighborhood). Gather all the bits of advice from people who have dealt with one real estate agent or another, but do the legwork yourself. Understand that choosing the best agent can make the difference between selling your vacant house and it still sitting empty a year later. Selling a house is an expense for the homeowner’s effort, time, and resources. It is a complex and emotional exercise because people often become attached to the properties they have owned. Having a good agent can help you through that process, and you will eventually complete the transaction as a happy person. The question that remains is how to find the one that suits your needs and is comfortable to work with. The best way to start the process is to interview agents you might consider using, drawn from your recommendations, existing knowledge of local real estate agents, or an online search. There are many ways of finding a good broker. Personal 19
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