While the commission you pay to the professional who is about to sell your home may come with some sticker shock, it’s important to remember that you are paying for an experience.
The right agent will come equipped with the market knowledge, the network, the marketing savvy, and the personal rapport to walk you through the home selling experience in a way that feels (almost) effortless.
They will also directly impact your ability to sell your home for as much as you can and as quickly as possible in the current market.
You are also investing in being guided every step of the way and spending as little of your valuable time as possible on the details.
In short, the relationship you build with your real estate agent is an investment.
Read on for five ways to maximize your investment in your real estate agent and help ensure a positive outcome.
1. Negotiation Skills: A great agent understands the art of the deal.
With twenty years experience, we have seen every kind of market. From intense sellers’ markets with multiple offers on homes far above asking price to homes sitting on the market for months at a time and selling far below asking, we are prepared for virtually anything.
Negotiation isn't just about the final price; it's about terms, contingencies, and timelines. An agent who can artfully navigate these waters is worth their weight in gold. They're the ones who can turn a decent offer into a fantastic deal, making sure you walk away feeling you have sold a home you poured years of hard work into for a fair return.
2. Market Knowledge: A great agent stays current and aware of a shifting market, even if the shift happened an hour ago
Ever had a friend who you turn to when you need real, unflinching advice? That's your agent with market knowledge. They know what’s happening with interest rates, the local and national economy, and precisely what makes your home and neighborhood valuable to buyers. This insider info is crucial. It means pricing your home just right - not so high that it’s lost in a sea of better options, but not so low that you’re giving it away. Our Principal Broker, Monique (the one who trains all of our agents) spent time working with a loan servicing company during which she learned to properly value thousands of homes across the country. All of our agents come equipped with the skills for proper pricing from the get-go.
3. Effective Marketing: A great agent thinks outside the box when it comes to marketing your home.
When the market is slow, or when there are a million available listings to compete with, it becomes more crucial than ever to hire an agent who comes equipped with an understanding of strategic, effective marketing. This does not mean throwing some smartphone pictures of your home on the MLS and calling it a day. We have created a holistic approach to home-selling. We will roll up our sleeves and personally walk through your home to identify any immediate needs for repair and improvement so you have less likelihood of being caught by surprise during inspection. We will create a home-selling strategy that includes your individual needs and your future financial goals. We will schedule (and foot the bill for) full professional staging so your home is warm and inviting (more on that below). Last, we offer complimentary professional photography on every listing.
4. Personal Rapport: A great agent should feel like your ally.
Ever had a coffee with a friend and ended up chatting for hours? That's the kind of rapport you want with your agent. This journey is personal, and having an agent who's more ally than acquaintance makes a world of difference. They're your confidant, advisor, and cheerleader, all rolled into one. When you trust them and they understand your needs, magic happens. It's more than business; it's a partnership.
5. Strategic Staging: A great agent knows how to create a picture of home in a buyer’s mind.
Imagine walking into a home that feels instantly like a space you can envision yourself living in. Your agent should help you set the stage from setting a space to look visually spacious and accessible to little touches that turn a looker into a buyer, it’s the difference between ‘just another house’ and ‘our future home’.
We offer complimentary full-service home staging because we have seen time and time again how proper staging can add thousands to the value of your home and help ensure higher visibility, more walk-throughs, and a faster sale.
In Conclusion:
The right real estate agent is the best investment you will ever make. By paying attention to these key strategies and strengths, your agent is not just processing a transaction, they are crafting a journey for potential buyers, making every penny of that commission work hard for you.
