Some points worth considering when selecting your vendors [Selling] agent:
Brand Selection
- Who are you selling to? If international does the agent company have a good international brand and marketing presence?
- Has the brand had bad media publicity that may put potential buyers off?
- Is there a satellite office near your property? If not, agents may not give your property as much attention as a local office may?
- Is the office located in a good high foot traffic area?
- What commissions does the agency charge if successful selling your property? Negotiate when listing because it’s too late to negotiate a fee when they have a buyer.
Agent selection:
- Meet your agent in person, do you like them and are they personable? If they’re not then they will put buyers off.
- Are they presentable but still approachable in their manner. Good agents don’t overdress and make their clients uncomfortable.
- Are they articulate in their communications? Email them to see how well they come across.
- Ask someone to call the office and your agent in particular asking about properties that your property would fall in, i.e. area and number of bedrooms etc. Do they mention your property?
- Never accept a marketing proposal without hard evidence that it gets results. This is the sure fire way to lose money. Ask them how much margin they make on a media booking.
- Challenge your agent to see how hard they are going to work for you i.e. are they going to put adverts up in the local yacht club, golf course etc at no cost to you?
- Never get pushed into an exclusive listing especially if your property is market priced and highly sought after. This will only limit your property exposure and have less agents working for you. Choose two or three agents from different companies to start with and see who is working hardest, you can always cancel their listing.
Last but not least ask yourself why you bought this property, where did you see the advert and who might buy it now? Write down a typical profile of your buyer (age group, budget etc) and put yourself in their shoes i.e. if your home is by a marina why not advertise in a yachting magazine or on the local yacht club notice board etc.