Sellers should be careful when selecting estate agents



Sellers should be very careful in selecting an agent to sell their property or they could regret it. Vice President of the Institute of Estate Agents South Africa (National) Arnold Nel, says sellers should view an agent as a prospective employee and should first check out his credentials before appointing him. Nel suggests sellers follow some basic steps, namely ; * Ask for an agent and company profile * Request for a marketing plan iro how the agent intends marketing the property * How active is the agent/agency in your area? * Ask for references from satisfied clients * Request for a comparative marketing analysis to back up the agents suggested * listing price * Are the agent and agency members of the Institute of Estate Agents and do they adhere to a strong set of ethics? * How long has the agent been in Real Estate? * What Real Estate qualifications has the agent obtained? The property industry is a specialized field and training is vital. Professional agents like members of the Institute of Estate Agents have normally written the Estate Agents Boards examination and are involved with ongoing training. A seller can also look at the local property newspaper to see who is active in the area. Although many people take great care in buying and handling a new outfit or even picking a restaurant, they often seem to handle the sale of their property in a haphazard way. NEL believes the seller should be very careful before appointing an agent and encourages the seller to also consider been referred to an agent by a close friend or relative who has had a positive experience with the referred agent. LASTLY When showing your home……. * Avoid having too many people present during inspections. The potential buyer will feel like an intruder and will hurry through the house. * Turn off blaring radio or television, turn on soft soothing music and let the agent and buyer talk free of any annoying disturbances. * Pets underfoot? Keep them out of the way, preferably out of the house. * Be courteous but don’t force conversation with the potential buyer. He wants to inspect your property, and not pay a social call. * Never apologize for the appearance of your property, after all it has been lived in. * Let the trained sales agent answer any objections. This is his job. * The sales agent knows the buyer’s requirements and can better emphasize the features of your home when you don’t tag along. * You will be called if needed. * Let your agent discuss price, terms, possession and other factors with the buyer in private. He is qualified to bring the negotiations to a favorable conclusion. Article : Arnold Nel -------- 0829015549