When it comes to marketing your property for sale, choosing the right real estate agent is a crucial decision - largely because of the sheer size of the transaction!
It's certainly a good time to sell real estate in Australia and New Zealand. Figures from the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand show that the national median price has reached an all-time high, surging 15.4 per cent in just the 12 months to September 2015. Meanwhile, average combined prices in Australia's capital cities grew 9.8 per cent over the year to June 2015, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
If these numbers have you in the mood to get your property on the market, here are a few tips for choosing the right real estate agent:
It's important that you interview multiple real estate agents.
1. Interview multiple agents
A survey from CoreLogic RP Data of 300 Australian vendors found that the majority of people (38 per cent) settled on the first agent they met. While we're not discouraging love at first sight, it pays to interview a number of agents before making a decision regarding homes for sale!
Treat it like a business interview, where you're the imposing CEO and they're the sweating job applicant. Their job is to sell your home, so give them their best shot of selling themselves.
2. Request their last 20 clients as references
To ensure what they're telling you is not just a ball of fluff, you should request some references - not just a selection of the best, but literally the last 20 clients they've dealt with.
A good real estate agent will be able to give you positive statements from just about any of their previous vendors. The CoreLogic RP Data survey discovered that it was the 'human skills' that had the most effect on vendors' impressions of agents, including honesty, following up on promises and communication before, during and after the property for sale had sold.
"My agent rang me about six months after the sale just to chat to make sure all was well and we had settled in. It was a very nice touch," said one happy respondent.
Make sure that you're able to get a word in!
3. Do they listen?
While it's important that a prospective agent informs you about their experience and knowledge of the market, including how they can help you, they should also take note of your needs and desires. Every seller has unique and individual requirements, which is why it's vital that your agent listens and tailors their services to suit your circumstances and property for sale.
CoreLogic RP Data identified the simple act of listening as one of the fundamental ways to improve a real estate agent's service to you, so make sure that you're able to get a word in!
