How to Get the Right Agent for a No-Stress Property Sale

by Perry Beebe

There are a number of life events that psychologists consider to be the most stressful of human experiences, and, while most of them involve personal tragedy and loss, surprisingly, selling the family home is high on that list. This is an event that can be an exciting start to a new life phase or a stressful, anxiety-ridden chore that leaves the seller drained and confused. The difference between these two extremes of emotion is selecting the right agent. Being able to develop a professional relationship with the agent selling your property enhances the whole experience and removes much of the stress from the process.

It's surprising how little research people do before handing over the sale of a valuable property to someone who is essentially, a stranger. Sometimes they may ask around their circle of friends and family for some referrals, and usually they check the cost of the agent's commission, but other than that, few people think to ask more in depth questions about the agent and the agency.

The most important piece of information an ethical real estate agent can give a potential seller is an honest appraisal of the value of the property. An experienced agent who knows the market in the area will tell the seller how to price the property and provide evidence from recent sales in the area to back up their opinion. Underpinning this vital step is trust -- trust that the agent will not undervalue for a quick sale, and on the other side, trust that the seller will allow the agent to negotiate a fair price on their behalf, and not hold out for something totally outrageous.

Designing the marketing campaign is another step that requires some relationship building between seller and agent, particularly as it usually requires the seller to outlay some funds upfront without any surety of a sale. The seller relies on the agent to spend their money wisely to get the best media coverage possible, and places their trust in the agent to do just that. The object is to attract interest from likely buyers and generate enough competition to bring in serious offers.

Spending a little time reviewing the various real estate agencies in the area, making appointments to talk with their best agents, and gathering information to compare the services on offer is an excellent way to select an agent. In the process, the seller will have had some personal contact with various people and this may help them decide which agency they will trust with their listing.

Selling a property is a major life event, but by choosing the right agent, the process should flow smoothly right from listing to settlement. An experienced, ethical agent will be available to answer questions, provide assurances and keep the seller informed at every step of the way, so there are no surprises.

About Perry Beebe Perry is the Managing Director of All Residential Real Estate. All Residential Real Estate is a boutique agency passionate about providing very high levels of customer service. We believe that property sales and management is about you. It's about how you feel when you sell your property or have a property managed through an agent. At All Residential Real Estate, you have very experienced professionals who take pride in everything they do.   You can also find Perry in Google+