Is Your Orlando Listing Agent Doing Their Best For You?
As Realtors in Orlando, we have an obligation to our clients to do everything in our power to make the home selling process as smooth as possible.
We are the ones they are counting on, the home selling professionals. Most sellers expect their agents to be trustworthy and ready to fight to get the highest dollar amount for their homes. They also expect their agent to resolve any issues that may arise during the process….and there will always be issues…
The typical Orlando homeowner knows very little about the home selling process which is why it’s our job as listing agents to guide and educate our clients as things progress.
Agents that are lazy and only do the bare minimum usually don’t last long in this business because it doesn’t take long for the word to get around that they’re horrible agents to work with.
On the other hand, however, agents that do an outstanding job for their clients will enjoy repeat business and referrals because of their reputation as hard workers.
Some home sellers understand that not all agents are created equally. The problem is there are entirely too many agents that just plop a sign in the front yard and cross their fingers hoping for a buyer. Homeowners deserve better than this.
Orlando homeowners reading this article should try to understand that like in most industries there are the “movers and the shakers” just like there are the ones that just plug along doing the bare minimum. As far as businesses go, there’s an 80-20 rule which means that 80% of the work is done by 20% of the people. The same holds true for Orlando real estate.
This information translates to one thing… you have to choose your agent wisely because there’s a lot of room for disappointment. So how do you go about picking the right Orlando real estate agent to represent you? You have to understand what a listing agent should be doing for their clients.
The following is a guide to understanding what you should expect from your listing agent.
1- Pricing A Home Correctly From The Start-
It’s crucial to get this step right from the very start. A good realtor will start by preparing a CMA [comparative market analysis] and use it as a tool in determining the listing price of your home.
Avoid agents that promise to get you a much higher price just to get the listing. Agents that use this tactic are in violation of the Realtor code of ethics. This will also end up costing you valuable time on the market and If the home is priced too high, you will eventually have to lower the sale price anyway.
2- Marketing The Home-
Your listing agent should be an online marketing expert. It starts by taking some great pics of the home. By having a lot of quality images of your home, we can create awesome content to advertise your home via their website, blog, video, social media, press releases, postcards, and of course the MLS.
A top listing agent will also have automated systems in place to leverage their marketing efforts.
3- Good Communication-
A homeowner should be kept in the loop about everything that’s happening with the sale of their home. Far too often we get complaints from our listing clients saying that “the agent we used to have would never call us or was impossible to get a hold of when we had a question”.
A good real estate agent should keep in constant contact with their listing clients. Whether they have an offer to present or not, agents should provide you with at least a weekly update on what the status is with your home. There is no excuse for poor communication and sellers have the right to know what’s going on with their home at all times.
4- Qualifying Buyers-
A good listing agent won’t waste your time with buyers who have no chance of qualifying for a home loan. It’s your realtor’s job to make sure that all potential buyers are pre-approved.
5- Negotiating Terms-
Everything in real estate is negotiable and a good agent, when warranted, won’t hesitate to counteroffer with a number that favors their client. They will also negotiate contingency and closing dates when necessary.
Top Orlando listing agents will go above and beyond to fight for the best terms for their clients. This is what realtors get paid for. Great real estate agents will always, always put their client’s best interests before their own.
6- Closing The Deal-
There are a lot of moving parts involved with selling a home. With so many little details, your agent should be instrumental in getting all the loose ends tied up for you. The less work you have to do, the better. This is a good indication that your agent is on top of things.
The Orlando Listing agent that you choose to sell your home should put your needs before their own, even if it means they make less money. By referring to this article when choosing the right agent, you’ll have a much better understanding of what to expect from your real estate professional.
