When you are thinking of selling, the first step and arguably the most important decision you will make is to choose an agent. The infinite choices and “industry talk” may make this decision seem daunting.
However by keeping three key factors in mind, the decision is easy,
- Local reputation – Research conducted by the REIV shows that home sellers prefer estate agents who are well regarded and active in the local area. This is when speaking with family, friends and neighbors will help to gauge the reputation of different agencies. Here at Frank Gordon, most of the business we receive comes from word of mouth as “Our greatest source of sales is referrals from our clients” (Frank Callaghan, Managing Director).
- Commission – Sellers should always compare the cost the agent is quoting to sell the property as well as the strategy behind the advertising and marketing campaign. This will help to determine the agent’s professionalism. However you should not consider commission as your only criteria, you should engage with the agent who will gain the best possible result, and this may or may not be the agent offering the lowest commission. There are various alternatives available in terms of commission structures. You are best to speak to an agent about finding the best one for you.
- Selling Price – All proposals will include an appraisal of value. We recommend vendors have a detailed discussion with each agent about the appraisal including the specific market trends and comparable sales that the agent used in developing the estimated price. We recommend caution when considering selling price, automatically choosing the agent with the highest market appraisal is not always the right choice, as this could be a tactic in getting your business. Always do primary research yourself and ask questions.
One of the reasons Frank Gordon has a clearance rate well in excess of the industry is our ability to accurately appraise property and deliver on our expectations.
All vendors who put their property on the market know the value of their property. The question is whether they are willing to accept that value or whether they are hoping for more. Hoping for more is perfectly acceptable, and it’s great to have a target to shoot for. The role of your real estate agent however, is to act in full honesty and transparency, presenting all the relevant facts so that you as a vendor can go into this journey fully prepared.
This is why it is important not to simply choose the agency estimating the highest selling price. Instead ask for comparable sales in the local area and the analysis of market trends they have used in developing the estimated price.
Frank Gordon believes in honesty rather than “fluffing” the edges. We will discuss all of the pertinent facts both verbally, in writing and in weekly face-to-face meetings, ensuring our clients are always up to speed. Designated meetings are vital in the upcoming months to auction. As it is important to discuss the feedback we receive from possible buyers. We ensure our vendors are kept up to date with buyer feedback on the property and price, as well as updates on private offers and those we believe will be bidding for the property. We keep a detailed account of the number of buyer inspections, contracts taken and second inspections so that you know how your property is being received by the public.
According to Frank Callaghan real estate is not firstly about sales. Real estate is about helping people make decisions – both vendors and buyers alike. You are providing evidence so that people can make well informed decisions, and the better you are at representing facts and information to people, the better real estate agent you are.