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I hope I can help.
I owned a small office and later worked in a position of go between a Government Dept and many real estate agents.
I always felt I was a cut above most of the agents I have ever dealt with.
Firstly in those days agents would tell an owner an inflated price to get the listing and then work upon the owner to reduce the price having signed up the listing.
This was common practice and I missed many many listings because I gave reasonable estimates and then see the property sell in the range I suggested usually well below the figure given by the listing agent.
My thoughts.
Call in the agents who sell in the area. I would get at least three.
Ask each the following.
How much should your how sell for.
What sales have taken place that suggests that selling price?
Make sure they give prices, addresses and dates. How long each on the market.
What sales has their office recently made, be specific, where when.
Ask how long the agent has been in the business and what he used to do.
Many go into real estate because it seemed like a good idea but really they wont last.
Ask that if you listed do they personally have a buyer in mind or will they have to advertise.
How long should your house take to sell?
Ask each if they like auction and how they do it.
As a generalisation there usually are less buyers than many expect.
Price the property to sell. Pricing higher than the market often causes the property to sit.. If too expensive folk wont make an offer so you find thehouse goes stale and then even when the price drops it maynot sell be ause folk wonder why it has not sold.
Each agent has a style, try and go for one that seems professional who you get on with and is not just passing thru.
And if none of them impress keep looking.
I could not believe the poor quality of agents when I worked for the Government.
Also make sure theydo what they say. Keep the appointment, returned the presentation when they promised.
Good luck please feel free to ask if you need my comment.
Alex
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