Our tech-focused approach drives
your results

A Seller agent’s job is to educate their clients about pricing and strategy and safely guide them through the home selling process. A seller’s agent spends most of their time touring homes in all price ranges in your market area and they can bring you insight about comparable properties from their firsthand experience. They also have inside knowledge about things that may have impacted a comparable home’s sale price (divorce, death, failed inspections, etc). Most agents sell hundreds or thousands of homes over their career. The average person moves 5-7 times in their lifetime. Would you trust someone who’s hiked 5-7 local mountains to “safely guide” you up Annapurna I in Nepal? There are so many things that can go wrong in a transaction if you don’t know what you’re doing. Seller’s agents take that heavy burden off your shoulders and in some cases can keep you from losing thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars by bringing the right experience to the table.

In a majority of cases, yes. There are agreements that do exist that are “open listings” where a seller can work with more than one agent but it’s tough to find an agent who is willing to share the listing with another brokerage. Why is that? Great seller’s agents spend a lot of time and money marketing the property, curating leads and converting those leads into serious buyers before they step even one foot across the threshold of your home. If you’re not willing to take their commitment seriously, you’ll see them spending time with more serious sellers who will.

It all depends on the marketplace you’re in and the terms you agree to, but most of the time the seller pays a commission to the listing agent. This is dependent on the agent’s ability to market the home, procure a ready, willing, and able buyer and close the deal. That’s right, in most cases you don’t pay a seller’s agent until the job is done and your home transaction is closed. Basically, all the risk is on the seller’s agent until the property goes on record and you no longer own your previous home. That means they have a vested interest in getting you the best price and terms and getting your home sold as quickly as possible.

Start by doing your research on local real estate experts. That doesn’t mean trust the internet alone as some agents will pay to be at the top of the search engine optimization list. A great agent will have a positive “word of mouth” presence in town. Check the web (cautiously), ask your friends, and look for stats backed up by your local MLS that prove you’re interviewing the right agent. Once you’ve found the right candidate you should set up an in-person interview. Most agents have a two-step process. The first appointment is an opportunity for them to meet you and see the condition of your home and learn about your motivation (this is important when it comes to strategy). That way they can compare your home to similar condition properties and come up with the best price. At the second visit they’ll discuss pricing, strategy, and marketing. Before the end of the conversation, you should have the seller dreaded discussion about commission. A great agent who knows their value will have their commission numbers ready and will be quick to answer. These agents know their worth and the value they bring to the table.

Much like a fingerprint, no two transactions are alike. A great seller’s agent will provide you with a CMA (comparative market analysis) justifying the price range they are suggesting followed by a marketing presentation. If you’re satisfied with everything they have prepared, the next step would be to go over contracts and sign them (after you feel you have been property educated about what you’re signing). The next step varies depending on what was promised in their marketing plan, but common processes include staging, professional photography, floorplan generation, videography, etc. Once the listing is posted on all marketing avenues promised…the real work begins. The agent then has the job of presenting the property in the best light, scheduling showings, following up with feedback, etc. When an offer(s) is finally received, the agent must vet all offers and present the good, the bad and the ugly to their seller client. The agent and the attorney should be well versed in real estate law to make sure that they are keeping you out of danger. One last tip…the amount of time an agent has had their license does not determine their level of experience. One agent that has been in the business for 25 years but sells 1 house per year does not carry the more positive experience of an agent who has 5 years of experience selling 20+ houses per year.