FIND THE RIGHT AGENT FOR YOUR BEST
REAL ESTATE EXPERIENCE
By Larry Stoller | Sep 6, 2022
At last count, there were more
than 2,100 real estate agents in the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton area. With so
many agents to choose from, how do you know which agent will work best for you?
One way would be to get a
referral from a friend or neighbor. Another would be to choose an agent who
regularly advertises properties listed and sold in the local newspaper or
online. Or maybe call some local real
estate companies to get agent referrals (it does not matter whether the
brokerage is big or small).
I suggest that you interview at
least three agents before making a decision. During the interviews you might
ask questions like:
• What fees and/or commissions
do you charge?
• Can we negotiate
fees/commissions based upon services provided?
• How did you determine the
value of my home and what it should sell for?
• Do you have a marketing plan
to sell my home for the highest possible price?
• How do you show prospective
buyers the true value of my home?
• What enhanced services do you
provide that gives my home the competitive edge?
These are just some major
questions that I think will be helpful … there are many others. For example,
what will the agent do if you are not getting many showings or if you are
getting a lot of showings but no offers. What if you are dissatisfied with what
the agent is doing or not doing, can you get out of the listing agreement?
Also, at the end of the
interview you could ask that a list of references be emailed to you (published
testimonials are good to get as well).
In 2007, a year after we moved
to Bluffton, I published a little book called “Finding Agent Right for Your
Best Real Estate Deal.”
The purpose of this book was to help home sellers and
home buyers choose the real estate agent who would be committed representing
them exclusively and getting them the best real estate deal.
This book offers a
question and answer methodology that prospective sellers and buyers can easily
use in helping them choose the real estate agent who will do the best job for
them.
Visit RealEstateFive.com for
the online version of the book, or email larry@realestatefive.com to receive a
complimentary printed copy.
Larry Stoller is a broker and
Realtor with Real Estate Five of the Lowcountry. Larry@RealEstateFive.com,
RealEstateFive.com