What's the Value?

Upon working on creating a new look for my website, the designer Chris Bormann, came up with the tag line of "What's the Value of a Good Agent?"

It's a great question to ponder, especially in these uncertain times. There are tons of folks out there with real estate licenses and a good number of folks who are Realtors as well. Beyond that, it can sometimes be difficult to determine value vs. savings when on the outside all things seem to look the same. But keep in mind, as the old adage goes, you truly do get what you pay for!

In the age of Internet, most folks looking to buy or sell begin their informal education of the real estate market in their area on the web. Sometimes this can give you a pretty good indicator of where your market stands, how many days homes are staying on the market and the list price vs. sell price. What those figures can't usually give you are some of the things that matter most...the condition of the home, square footage and usability, allowances or concessions that were offered, etc. Those are things that an experienced agent who shows and sells property regularly in your area can help you with.

There are so many websites out there currently to assist for sale by owners offering limited services, such as mls entry and scheduling. It is great to have your home in your local multiple listing service, but this should not, by any means, be the best your agent has to offer.

For example, is it really worth saving $5000 in commissions when your home is going to sit on the market for an additional 6 months? That's 6 months of mortgage payments, utilities, taxes, insurance and the risk of damage going unnoticed because you no longer permanently reside in the property... Depending on your situation, it may or may not be the right move to go it alone. My thought is, that that money could be better spent in your pocket rather than sitting dormant in a home that you no longer desire. Not to mention, once the buyer contacts you to transact the deal, you are now saddled with negotiations of terms, repairs, attorneys, etc. This is the perfect example of time value of money.

Now if your agent is not full-time and competent, then yes, it may be just as well for you to do this yourself...however, look for a full-time Realtor at a reputable firm to begin with...

After that make sure you are asking your agent some important questions depending on your needs:

How many transactions do you generally do in a year? How many homes have you sold in this area? Do you advertise on the Internet? Do you have your own website? Does your website feed it's information to other popular websites? How many photos and virtual tours do you have on your site? Does your site have mapping features? Do you do any print advertising? Are you involved in the community? Do you have any assistance if you are sick or on vacation? Do you communicate effectively and/or have access to cell phones, texting, computers, email? (You may be surprised as to the response!) What do your fliers and interior books look like--do you even do them? How do you track your marketing and what has been successful? What is your list to sell price ratio? How will you keep me up to date on the activity on my home? Do you have folks who can help me with staging, maintenance, etc. if needed? Do you have good relationships with other brokers at other companies? Do you sell mostly existing or new homes?

These are just a few questions to get you started when interviewing your potential agents...my suggestion is to bring three or four into your home and compare answers and then choose the most qualified agent for your needs...but keep in mind there is tremendous value in a good agent. If you have ever had one, you know...for more tidbits and testimonials, please visit my new-revamped website:

www.BrookeCashion.com