HOW DO I CHOOSE A REAL ESTATE AGENT?
1. BE CAUTIOUS OF THE #1 CLAIM. When an agent says that she is #1, find out in what! TAKING LISTINGS OR SELLING THEM? Ask how many homes (units) the agent has sold in the past 12 months and compare with the other agents you are interviewing. BONNIE consistently sells over 100 properties a year!
2. WHAT ABOUT KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE. It is the most important factor in choosing an agent. The agent you choose will either make or break the sale. BONNIE BLUE has years of experience and holds two designations... GRI and CRS (Graduate of Realtor Institute and Certified Residential Specialist). She has been the #1 listing agent with her company since 1990 and every year thereafter. What does that mean... more of her listings SOLD each year than any other agent with the firm. WHY? Because she puts 110% into SELLING property!
The following will determine what your house sells for and how fast.
1. Price
2. Location
3. Condition
4. Economy
5. Marketing
The seller or the agent cannot control LOCATION or ECONOMY. It is out of her hands!
Only the seller has control over the CONDITION and LISTING PRICE. (The market controls the SALE price).
MARKETING IS THE ONLY THING THE AGENT CAN CONTROL!
And MARKETING is the most important in SELLING your home!
Coupled with follow-up and negotiating...
That's why you hire a PROFESSIONAL!
You want a PRO with a terrific marketing plan that works!
A terrific plan is not just placing your home in the Multiple Listing Service and praying!
| BONNIE'S Record is STERLING: |  |
HOW NOT TO PICK A REAL ESTATE AGENT!
You have to kiss alot of frogs before you find a prince or princess!
Don't choose an Agent based on the Highest Price.
What determines the price your home will SELL for is the MARKET... not, as many sellers think, the agent. An agents job is to inform you of what the market information is saying. Remember, the agent that tells you what you want to hear, and a ridiculously high price, is the agent that just wants a listing. After you have listed your home with that agent, he or she will inevitably try to get you to reduce the price to where it should have been in the beginning. This tactic is not only unethical, but it wastes your time and costs you money! (Please read the "Straight Answers On Pricing Your Home" section of my web site).
WHAT KIND OF MARKETING PLAN WORKS?
One that sells houses, of course... but other than that what should your prospective agent be concentrating on?
The majority of home buyers purchase their home through a Realtor (about 65%). So if almost 2/3 of the buyers use an agent, it only makes good sense to market other agents heavily... especially the ones who usually have buyers.
BUT WAIT... WHERE DO MOST COMPANIES AND AGENTS PUT THEIR MARKETING DOLLARS?
1. Newspaper Print Ads: Which are traceable to only 8% of buyer sales.
2. Real Estate Home Magazines: Which are traceable to only 1% of buyer sales.
Let's look at this from another prospective... a yard sign will attract twice as many buyers as all your print, and classified ads together. The only people that benefit from print ads are the newspapers and magazines... and they don't buy many homes!
DON'T CHOOSE AN AGENT BY COMMISSION!
Most agents won't mention that the commission rate is negotiable. But remember, if you want to attract the top agents and their best buyers to view your home... you will get what you pay for. If you think a top Professional Real Estate Agent is expensive... wait till you hire an amateur!
KEEP IN MIND, THE AGENT THAT DOESN'T GET YOUR HOME SOLD IS THE MOST EXPENSIVE AGENT IN THE LONG RUN!
"Have You Heard Most Agents 3 P's of Marketing?"
1. Plant a sign in the yard
2. Place it in the MLS
3. Pray that it sells
I am certain this is not your idea of a good marketing plan!