Deciding to put your home on the market is the largest decision you will ever make, financially and emotionally. It is important to choose the right agent to sell your Duncraig home, so, what is important to you and how do you choose?

Believe me when I say appointing the right agent to represent you in the marketplace will prove to be a profitable and enjoyable experience. Making a truly informed decision based on all the following aspects will guide you through this process and ensure you are making the right decision on who you choose to sell your Duncraig home:

Communication is King!

There is nothing worse than being kept in the dark and not feeling like you are part of your own sale, right? If you have sold a home before, you have probably experienced this as it is the number 1 complaint I hear in this industry from sellers. You need to know detailed buyer feedback from every buyer who inspects your home, you need to know how many buyers are seeing your home online, you need to know what marketing is working and what is not. You need this as a weekly written report and have your agent discuss it in detail with you. At some point during the sale process you will be presented with an offer, at which point you will be fully informed to make the right decision for you, I guarantee it!

Marketing Matters!

Ever heard of “Reach, Frequency and Layering” in relation to marketing? If you haven’t, don’t worry as most real estate agents haven’t either! The understanding of it is important but so is the execution. “Reach” refers to how many buyers are exposed to your home, so, for example The West Australian Newspaper has a much larger Reach than say the Joondalup Times as more people will see your home in The West. “Frequency” refers to how many times a buyer is exposed to your property, the goal is to expose your home to buyers at least 5 times to ensure they know it is for sale and inspect. “Layering” refers to all the different mediums of advertising, ensuring all bases are covered including internet, newspapers and local residents. As a winner of the Real Estate Institute of Australia’s Communication Award, I am qualified to provide you with the best real estate marketing in the country.

Choosing the right Selling Method!

The selling Methods are:

Private Treaty (For Sale)

The most commonly used method in Duncraig and usually is advertised with a price. Very familiar to buyers and sellers, buyers will inspect based on whether the price which is set falls into their budget and the home meets their criteria. The potential downside is pricing your home incorrectly, either to high or in some cases to low. You run the risk of underselling your home and not achieving the maximum price possible. Potentially homes for sale under this method are on the market for a long period of time as there is no end to the selling method.

Auction

Most people have heard of an auction or maybe attended an auction or have had a friend who has done an auction on their property. It is a very under utilized selling method in WA and Duncraig. It is usually advertised to the market without a price and is very heavily marketed. Buyers will inspect the property based on whether the home fits their criteria, this is where the auction method can be powerful. Buyers will realize that their is an end date (auction day) to the campaign and if they are interested they are forced to make a decision around the property in a short period of time. Not only do properties sell faster with this method they also create great competition amongst buyers, this in turn can push the price higher than expected. When buyers bid on your home at auction they are bidding under the terms and conditions set by you, the seller thus giving you greater control over your sale and allowing you to plan better for the future.

Set Date Sale

Unique selling method created by Realmark that can only be used by Realmark associates. This has become a highly successful selling method, once you understand how this method works, you can really see the benefits it provides you. It takes the best of Auction and For Sale and rolls it into one, only a suitably qualified agent can run one successfully, you must be cautious of other spin offs which have started to emerge from other agencies. Only a “Set Date Sale” by Realmark is the real thing and features specific components in marketing which are needed to ensure it works correctly. If you would like further information on this method please ask!

“All of the above selling methods have perceived negatives and positives, however it is important that you select the right one based on your circumstances and select an agent whom can facilitate all the methods expertly” – Matt Travia

 What are the costs?

How important are fees to you? The answer to that question is really another question, what kind of service do you want? Remember the age old saying, “You get what you pay for”. This is very true when it comes to selecting real estate agents, you will get the “Cheap and Cheerful” agents which promise the world, under deliver and usually make a mess of your sale. Or you may get the “High end, premium looking agent” which proves to be nothing of substance underneath, just all gloss on top. My advice is always select an agent who demonstrates skill, passion for Duncraig, good communication and actually has a plan or strategy to sell your home, couple this with a fair, incentive based fee and you will have found the agent for you the first time and save yourself the bad experience that comes with the wrong agent.

Challenge your prospective Agents!

Ask Questions! Absorb what a real estate agent is telling you and ask yourself how that will help you sell your home? Are they just waffling on about how good they are? Is there any substance to what they are saying? Is it relevent to you and your property? Challenge them on:

  • How they will deal with your buyers in specific circumstance?
  • What kind of dialogue they will use?
  • How will they get offers from buyers?
  • What is there strategy on selling your home?
  • Why are they worth the commission they are offering?
  • How long should you expect to be on the market for with them?
  • What kind of service guarantee do you get?
  • How will they communicate with you and how frequently?
  • Do they offer seller meetings weekly?
  • Do they do written reports weekly?

It’s important to know all the details before you sign with an agent as most are reluctant to let you out of your agreement early, tieing you to them regardless of whether they prove to be competent or not. Role play with an agent, pretend you are a buyer inspecting your own home, ask them challenging questions and see if they answer them in an appropriate and convincing way. Having a plan set out before interviewing agents will put you in a great position to select the right one and avoid the disappointment which comes from the wrong one!