It takes a lot more than a "For Sale" sign in the front yard, a Multiple Listing entry, and an occasional ad in the classifieds to get a home listing sold. Be sure to discuss the details of the marketing plan with the companies and real estate agents you interview about selling your home.

Real estate agents who provide high quality service will usually have a written marketing plan tailored to fit your home and your individual needs. A good marketing plan begins with pricing the home appropriately. It involves exposing your home to as many real estate professionals and qualified buyers as possible. The agent's job is to get buyers through your front door; your job is to ensure that the buyers like what they see. Top agents are very active in finding prospective buyers and in coaching sellers about how to enhance their home's presentation. There are differences in the marketing approaches of companies and individual agents, so ask for a written plan to give you a clear idea of what you can expect of your agent.
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How do real estate agents sell homes? When a professional real estate agent is retained to sell a home, the agent will develop a marketing plan that has proven effective for selling homes quickly and for the maximum sale price.

The real estate agent will perform a market analysis, comparing the home with similar homes in your neighborhood that have recently sold. Your agent will evaluate the current real estate market in order to develop a price opinion for your home. The next step will be to make recommendations about preparing your home so that it is presented to its best advantage. A description of the home will be uploaded into the local Multiple Listing Service, and your agent will implement a marketing plan tailored to your home.

By listing your property, you expose it to thousands of real estate agents throughout the region. MLS exposure is one of the most valuable services a real estate agent can provide sellers. Real estate professionals also network with other agents in their office when they bring new listings to the market. Does this system work? 85% of the homes sold today use this method. Enough said!
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Which party in a real estate transaction is represented by the real estate agent--the buyer or the seller? Until recently that question was never asked because the answer was always the same. Traditionally all the marketing professionals involved in real estate transactions were legally and ethically obligated to conduct business on behalf of the seller. They may have aided the buyer in certain situations, but their client was the seller. Today that is not necessarily the case.

In a time of increasing specialization, buyers can be represented by a real estate agent who functions solely as a buyer's broker. In this case, the sales professional helps the buyer locate a home, negotiate the price, and is responsible to the buyer only, for an agreed-upon fee or a percentage commission.

In any real estate transaction you have the right to know which party the real estate agent is representing.
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Real estate agents begin their professional relationship with buyers by asking numerous questions about the buyer's personal and financial situation. The answers to these questions will give the real estate agent a clear idea about the buyer's housing needs and price range. It is a waste of time for an agent to show a buyer homes they can't afford, and it can be disheartening to consider unrealistic possibilities.

In order to do a great job finding you a home, your real estate agent needs to have some basic information about your income, debts, and the amount of cash you have available for a purchase. Your agent also needs to know something about your lifestyle. How large is your family? Where do you work? Do you have school-age children? Do you enjoy entertaining? What hobbies would you like to accommodate?

The real estate agent who helps you find your new home will get to know you very well, so it is very important that you feel comfortable with that person and free to communicate openly.
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Recent reforms in the disclosure laws and real estate practices around the country have resulted in new options for buyers and sellers. Real estate agents can take different roles with buyers and sellers.

A seller's agent works with loyalty and fidelity as the seller's advocate and negotiator, and is obligated to disclose to potential buyers all adverse material facts that are known about the property.

A buyer's agent works exclusively to negotiate the lowest purchase price and best terms for the buyer. This agent serves the buyer with undivided loyalty, confidentiality, and full disclosure. The agent would know the highest price that the buyer would be willing to offer for a home, but could not disclose that information to the seller.

A dual agent can work for both the buyer and the seller by written, informed consent of both parties and has fiduciary obligations to both. The agent can only disclose to one party what the other party allows to be revealed.

A transaction broker assists the buyer or seller or both throughout a real estate transaction without being an agent or advocate for any of the parties.
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The best real estate agents in today's marketplace are becoming even better about marketing the homes they list to the public, as well as to other agents who have potential buyers.

When you are interviewing prospective real estate agents to help you sell your home, ask how they find buyers. In the past, a "For Sale" sign would go into the ground, the basic information went into the Multiple Listing Service, and then there was an occasional Sunday classified ad and an "open house". If the house did not sell right away, the agent might recommend a price reduction.

Agents today are much more sophisticated and pro-active about getting people into their homes. They rely on computers, direct mail, telemarketing, and just plain clever ideas that no one else has tried. Ask prospective listing agents for two things--a written analysis of what is happening with housing prices in your area and a marketing plan which outlines how they would get your home from "For Sale" to "Sold".
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When you buy or sell a home, you want to work with a real estate agent who has the experience and expertise to handle such a complex transaction with a minimum amount of stress. When choosing a real estate agent, you should look for technical competence and interpersonal skills.

Ask prospective real estate agents several questions. How long have you been in the business? How do your services differ from those of your colleagues? Do you have a principal broker/owner who works closely with you and serves as a backup person if you are not available?

Keep in mind that there are no "right" answers to these questions. Don't rule out a less-experienced agent who brings energy and enthusiasm to the job. You want personalized professional service from someone whom you can trust to lead you through the process.
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When you buy your first home, you want the best advice you can get. You want to show the house to friends and relatives before you commit. They will probably tell you about all of the things that went wrong during their own transactions so you can avoid the same mistakes. These experts all have good intentions, but so much advice can put you into a state of high anxiety.

Real estate transactions are very complex, and difficulties can arise. If you are buying your home with the help of a professional real estate agent, your agent will know how to make sure that any minor upsets do not turn into major problems. A real estate agent's expertise is based on formal training and experience in many real estate transactions. Their reputation is on the line with each sale, so they are highly motivated to make your purchase or sale go as smoothly as possible. When you are dealing with a professional real estate agent, you can worry about what might go wrong if you wish, but you don't have to!
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When you begin to search for a new home, you will probably encounter several real estate agents at open houses, through friends or from signs or advertisements. Each agent would like a commitment from you to work exclusively with him or her. Is this arrangement in your best interest or is it better to play the field?

There is a universal law that also pertains to real estate agents--you get back from a relationship what you put into it. If you are not convinced that one agent could possibly fill all your needs, you may be overlooking the positive aspects of a one-on-one relationship.

The first step is to find an agent whom you like and trust. Don't be afraid to discuss your reluctance to work with one agent exclusively, but be open to other viewpoints. You may be pleasantly surprised by the open communication that such an admission will establish right from the beginning! Making a commitment to work exclusively with an agent is part of the formula for success in real estate.

The strongest accountability is in the marketplace. A good reputation and referrals from happy clients are essential to a real estate agent's success!
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If you are using the services of a professional real estate agent to find a new home, good communication is crucial to the transaction. A real estate agent who knows your most significant criteria can work much more effectively to show you homes that will meet your needs.

Let the real estate agent know why you are interested in a specific location. Discuss specific requirements such as proximity to your job, good schools, or recreational activities. If there are no houses available in your price range, the agent may suggest alternate neighborhoods with the same amenities. Do you need a home office or do you have hobbies that you want to accommodate? Is there a particular style of architecture that you prefer? Agents sometimes have to be intuitive when we work with buyers. The more you can describe to us what elements in the home are essential and where you are willing to compromise, the easier it will be to use our expertise to find a home that's perfect for you.
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Once your home is listed for sale, it may be difficult for you to step aside and let your agent take over. When prospective buyers arrive, you may want to stand by to point out the closet extenders, the hidden spice cabinet behind the kitchen door, the energy-saving storm windows or the updated copper plumbing. If you really want to help, however, you will leave the house whenever it is being shown!

We have found that the sales process does not really begin until buyers have begun to voice their objections about a property. Sometimes these concerns are serious enough to remove your house from consideration. Often, however, people voice objections as an automatic response when they really love the house and want to buy it. Real estate professionals are trained to know the difference.

If a seller is standing at the agent's elbow, the buyer won't be comfortable enough to allow the process of raising objections take place. If the buyer feels intimidated or suppressed, we could lose the sale. The best way to help is to give your real estate agent room to make the sale.
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Technical terms can be confusing to people who do not work in a profession, and real estate agents use language that may be confusing to many home buyers and sellers.

If you find your eyes glazing over when your real estate agent starts talking about escrow, clear title, easements, encroachments, contingencies, financing, appraisals and the closing process, don't hesitate to ask for a translation. Buying or selling a home is a major step, and professional real estate agents are totally committed to helping you understand the process thoroughly so that you can make informed decisions.

The simple transaction of trading the sellers' house for the buyers' money has become complicated by several hundred years of custom, common law, and state and local government requirements. Consumer demands have resulted in up-to-date rules that communication be as clear and understandable as possible. Real estate agents work to create an atmosphere in which you feel comfortable to ask questions.
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When you list your house with a real estate agent who participates in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), you get a lot of service for your money. Depending upon the MLS region, there may be hundreds of participating members.

The real estate agent who lists your home works to get it sold. This is done by marketing directly to home buyers, but an even more powerful tool is marketing your home to other agents who have buyers. Your real estate agent makes all the crucial information about your home available to the other members through the MLS. Information such as your home's location, size, the number of rooms, the style of architecture, what personal property is included, and any other special features is posted. The MLS description will also contain information about any special financing that might be available, showing instructions, and special needs you may have with respect to closing. The MLS is a powerful tool for real estate matchmakers.
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You leave the closing feeling really good about the way your agent handled the sale of your home. It was priced well, and by following your real estate agent's advice on how to show your home to its best advantage, you sold it quickly. The agent followed up with the lender and the appraiser to make sure that everything went smoothly and that small problems didn't become big ones. You had heard stories from friends about their stressful moves, and you are relieved and happy that you were spared any serious mix-ups. How do you say "Thanks for a job well done" to your agent?

Real estate agents depend on referrals for a big part of their business. An agent who has served you well will probably do a professional job for your friends or colleagues. The nicest thing you can do for a good real estate agent is to pass their name on to prospective buyers or sellers.
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A real estate agent's job is to sell your home for the best price, in the shortest time. Another important part of the agent's responsibility is to make the sales process as easy as possible for you, the seller. Your real estate agent can eliminate much of the hassle involved in selling your home, while providing you and your family with the "peace of mind" you need during this sensitive time. Your agent can help you avoid the inconvenience of having buyers stop by unannounced to see your home or your wasting time with those who are not financially qualified to buy your home.

When you list your home with a sales professional, you get an array of valuable services, including the widest possible exposure through Multiple Listing Service. This is the best vehicle to get the most qualified buyers to see your home.
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Good communication will enable you to get the best service from the real estate agent who is helping you to buy or sell a home. If you have any concerns, make them known not just to your spouse, your mother and your co-workers, but to the person who can do something about it--your agent!

Real estate sales are extremely complex transactions which involve negotiating large sums of money and turning over the largest single asset most individuals will ever own. Since the possibilities for misunderstandings are great, professional real estate agents work hard to ensure that the transaction will go smoothly. This requires clear communication between the buyers and the sellers and other agents.

Most of the breakdowns in real estate transactions result from vague or inadequate communication prior to the signing of the contract. Express any concerns that you may have and ask about anything you don't understand--the only foolish question is the one that isn't asked!
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It is not unusual for homeowners to yield to the temptation to try to sell their own home. It seems easy enough--just place an ad in the weekend paper and wait for buyers to show up. Although it may seem simple, real estate sales transactions are extremely complex proceedings.

The first pitfall can come with pricing your property realistically. Homeowners often price their property too high initially, then drastically slash the price when weeks go buy without an offer. Even if a prospective buyer agrees to the initial asking price, there could be complications if the buyers begin to feel that they have agreed to pay too much, or if the lender's appraisal values the property at far less than the agreed-upon price. Some of our clients hired us to market their home professionally after weeks or months of trying to sell their own home without success, or after their FSBO transaction fell through.
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