All About Greenville SC Real Estate

What You Should Know About Choosing a Listing Agent

Selling a property is one of the most important transactions you'll ever do in your life. As such, you need to make careful moves. If it's your first time selling a house, you need to work with trusted professionals in the real estate industry. Here is what everyone ought to know about choosing a listing agent.

Compare Real Estate Agents Online

The first thing you must know is the need to make careful comparisons. Begin by searching for real estate listings online or by checking out their available listings in your local newspaper. Go ahead and jot down the prices they are asking for each property. Also, take note of how long they have been on the market. This will give you a better idea of how experienced they are.

Compare the Fees

An agent's commission is usually between 3-5% of the final sale price. This may not be a big difference, but you should still ensure your current real estate agent provides their services for the lowest possible fee.

Ask the Right Questions

After you have compared some agents, it's time to move ahead and ask them some questions. Whether the agent is someone that your friend or relative has recommended or they are one of the few listings in the local newspaper, make sure to ask about their experience in real estate. Every potential client should ask if the agent they are interested in works full-time.

State your Expectations Clearly

As we've mentioned above, selling a property is very important. This means you and the agent need to be on the same page about expectations and deadlines. You can ask about their marketing plan or how they plan on promoting your property for sale. As such, before you sign any contract with an agent, make sure that both of you are clear on what you expect.

Find Someone You Can Trust

As important as finding an agent who can sell your property, it's equally vital to make sure you find someone you trust. Remember, this person will be working with your money and dealing with one of the most important transactions for a lifetime. So, before signing a contract or hiring any real estate professional, do a background check on them first. Who knows? You might find out they have a criminal history, and it's best to avoid them altogether.

Sign an Agreement

Once you've found an excellent real estate agent, the next thing you need to do is sign a contract. This contract should state all the terms and conditions between both parties. Alternatively, some agents require their clients to sign an authorization letter instead of a legal document.

When negotiating with your agent, always try to get the best deal possible. A great agent will be reasonable when it comes to fees, so make sure to get the most favorable terms on your side of this agreement, too.

The Bottom Line

Selling property can be a complicated process, but once you know what you're doing, the process becomes a lot simpler. It all begins with making comparisons, asking the right questions, and finding someone trustworthy.