Selecting the Selling Agent

How do you select the perfect selling agent?  Aunt Sally got her real estate license and you want to sell your home.  All a real estate agent does is fill out a few forms, register the home with the service, put a sign in the yard and collect a fat paycheck, right?  How badly could she mess that up?  The answer is....Plenty. 

If you are in the Seattle area, and are selling or listing real estate, your choice of real estate agent is crucial.  Your listing agent is responsible for decisions that will effect the biggest transaction most of us ever make; selling your home.  Here are some of your choices of a selling or listing real estate agent and the reason you would select them.

Aunt Sally - Thanksgiving will be a long, tough meal if Aunt Sally isn't your real estate agent, bragging to Cousin Frank about the glory she earned on the Home Selling Battlefield.

Friend Bob - Same thing.  Bob will get his feelings hurt if he is not your real estate agent.  He's counting on your listing to buy that new lawnmower.  You'll feel guilty if Bob finds out you've listed your house, condo or townhome elsewhere.

Charlene Costcutter - She may be a friend, a relative, a referral or someone you called from a sign.  She'll do your home listing for 4%, instead of the customary 6% real estate commission.  If she is listing your $400,000 home, that's a savings of $8,000 on the real estate commission!  How could you pass that up?

No Name Real Estate - They'll put your home on the multiple for even less than Charlene and save you even more money!  Why doesn't everyone use a discount real estate agent?  Those savings are irresistible!

Selecting someone to help sell your home is like selecting a tax accountant.  There are cheap services that advertise just before April 15 who will do your taxes for less than $50.  You'll probably lose more money than you gain.  A good accountant costs more, but saves even more for his clients by working hard and getting every deduction possible.  Real estate sales contracts are complex legal documents.  The transaction is a high-level negotiation.  How will you feel about Aunt Sally or Friend Bob if they cost you money?  Why would you trust the biggest transaction of your life to someone who starts their negotiation with YOU by offering a major discount?  The best agents are NEVER discount agents.  In Seattle, real estate agents who offer their services at a reduced price do so because they're not worth full value.  Discount real estate brokerage companies tell you up front you're on your own.  All they do is put the home on the real estate service and provide a sign. 

Full service real estate agents rarely get their sellers in legal trouble.  Especially if they are real estate agent s®, they know how to market your home.   real estate agent s® negotiate the best prices.    Don't discount the stress an inexperienced or indifferent agent can cause.  Please read further on How to interview potential listing agents.