Selling your home is one of the most difficult decisions you’ll make in life. After all, not everyone is a seasonal home switcher, unless their profession and family dynamics calls for it.

A professional and experienced real estate agent can guide you through the entire process, help you set a fair price, and market your home effectively to attract potential buyers. 

But finding the right realtor to help you with the above considerations is a different story altogether.

How do I find a real estate agent for my needs?

Agents try to acquire quality seller leads in order to find authentic sellers. At the same time, sellers too can find their ideal agent using the following tips.

Determine the agents you shouldn’t hire

Start by determining the listing agents you want to avoid and add them to a separate section of your real estate leads list. There may be various reasons to not hire any particular real estate agent or agency.

For example, a history of unethical behavior, such as engaging in dual agency without disclosing it, pressuring you to sell for a lower price, or providing personal favors to the buying party.

To identify such agents, go through their online reviews, check their license status, and ask around for referrals and analyze market word-of-mouth. Facts and figures speak for themselves and will highlight unqualified agents you should avoid.

Compare real estate agents online

Comparing real estate agents online is an excellent way to find the best one for you. Visit their websites, check their social media profiles, and read reviews to get a sense of their expertise, experience, and work style.

Look for agents who have a strong online presence and use various marketing channels to promote their listings.

Moreover, check if the agents have sufficient experience selling homes similar to yours in terms of location, style, and price range.

Create the right criteria

When evaluating professional realtors, you need to first create your own criteria and then determine if the agent matches the profile you’ve set.

Apart from years of experience, licensing, and credentials, you should consider the agent’s sales record, negotiation skills, communication style, and responsiveness.

A good realtor should be able to explain the selling process to you, provide you with market data and trends, and communicate clearly and promptly throughout the transaction.

They should also be flexible, adaptable, able to anticipate and solve problems quickly, and always recommend the best course of action in any situation.

Interview qualified listing agents

It’s time to meet your shortlisted agents in person, or at least virtually. Before interviewing them, you need to make a list of questions you’ll want them to answer.

Schedule a meeting or a phone call with at least three to four agents to discuss their services, experience, commission rates, disclaimers, contract obligations, and other important details.

During the meeting, ask them about their previous clients and how they helped them sell their homes. Also, talk about their availability, communication style, and how they intend to market your home.

To help you prepare for the meeting or interview, here are some questions to consider:

• How long have you been selling homes in my area?
• What is your experience selling homes similar to mine?
• How do you plan to market my home and attract serious buyers?
• What is your commission rate, and what services do you provide for that rate?
• What communication channels and frequency do you offer your clients?
• Can you provide me with references from your past home selling clients?
• What is your negotiation style and how do you manage multiple offers at once?
• How long will it take to sell my home? And what is your pricing strategy?

Final thoughts

Remember, a genuine and responsible realtor will have a real estate leads list to show sellers of the interested parties, and also have seller leads to connect prospective sellers with the right buyers.

However, before locating and hiring a professional agent or company, you need to go through the above steps to find the right real estate agent for you.