With the medium of the world wide web at your service it is not difficult to find a good estate agent. It is important to do your research before you accept an agency. Some questions to ask yourself before you start are:
- Which agency's advertisements or websites are the most appealing?
- Does the agency show a virtual tour of properties on their website?
- Do the descriptions of the home or property make you want to see more?
- Does the agency provide adequate photographs of the homes? Are they of a major pixel quality?
- Was their website near the top when you entered the details into the search engine?
- There is no better advertising than word of mouth - ask friends and family for their opinion if they have been in your situation.
- Will the agent place your house in multiple Listing Service (MLS) immediately? Making your home available to every affiliated agent greatly increases the buyer pool.
- Find out if the agency belongs to more than one MLS. In some areas there's an overlap of popular neighborhoods, advertisements memberships.
- Find our the agency's commission rate, and how it compares to other agencies
- Discover how long it usually takes to sell a home in your area, and the agencies individual target time for sales
- A reputable agency will have customer reviews at hand. If they don't, consider why this may be.
- Will the agent hold an open house for other real estate agents? For buyers?
- Find out how the agent handles showing the home. Confirm that you will have advance warning that someone is visiting.
