Joel Nelson Discusses Some Deadly Questions You Should Absolutely, Positively Get Answered Before You Sell Your Kalamazoo Home

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May 9, 2009, by Joel Nelson in Tips for Sellers

Not all real estate companies in Kalamazoo are alike. If you decide to seek the help of an agent when selling or buying your home, you need some good information before you make any moves.

Choosing the correct agent in Kalamazoo Michigan critical issues that can cost or save you thousands of dollars.

Listed below are some important questions that you should ask in order to make sure you get a quality representative who is suited to your unique needs. Many Kalamazoo area real estate agents would prefer that you don’t ask these questions, because the knowledge you will gain from their honest answers will give you a very good idea of what outcome you can expect from using this agent.

Real Estate, as in life - not all things are created equal.

Employing a Realtor located in Kalamazoo Michigan resembles every other hiring procedure - with you positioned in the employer's chair. Buying real estate is a huge financial investment and you want to make sure that you have the right people on your side. This is a list of questions you should be asking your agents:

It may be news to you that the pair of marketing tools used by agents to sell houses (open houses and big company ads) don't really work well. The National Association of Realtors has reported the following statistics: 3% of the people who call on an advertisement purchase that home and less than 1% of the homes available at an open house secure a buyer as a result. How do most homes in Kalamazoo get sold? The Multiple Listing Service is the answer. It is as simple as that. A home listed on the MLS by a specific agent may be shown by ANY agent from EVERY real estate firm, and that agent is given full access to show the home for sale.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the people who contact you to ask about your home are most likely just as busy as you are. No one wants to deal with having to play a game of phone tag with an agent or an unsolicited sales pitch. Make sure the ad your agent places for your home is attached to a 24 hour pre-recorded hotline with a specific ID # for your home which gives buyers access to detailed information about your property day or night 7 days a week. Calls for information on your home under this system produce 3 times as many potential buyers. And remember, the more buyers you have competing for your home the better, because it sets up an auction-like atmosphere that puts you in the
driver’s seat.

Two. Why you are worth the commission that you collect.

Don’t ever agree to any commission unless you are shown exactly how this agent earns it. FACT - Realtor Commissions are not established by legal policy!

3. Have you got no less than a trio of helpers to assist you?

Most agents work all by themselves without any support making it difficult for them to provide you with a consistently superior level of service. There are several different segments in real estate jobs. In the same way that you wouldn't anticipate physicians or attorneys doing the work of receptionists. Kalamazoo area real estate agents should delegate responsibilities which are not complicated but require a lot of time commitment. In the event that the Realtor lacks assistants to handle every facet of the sale, you need to wonder what amount of time they actually possess to get.Kalamazoo homes sold. Being an assistant is not the same as being the company's receptionist. The firm's secretary performs tasks for the entire Realtor staff, however an assistant solely answers to a single real estate agent and is accredited as a real estate professional.

Number Four - What is your unique selling proposition?

The agent should be able to explain, step-by-step, how they attract buyers and show you evidence. If they can’t, hire another agent! Do not hire any agent
that tells you their reputation will somehow attract buyers! Make them prove it!

Five. How many home sales have been closed on where I live?

Your agent should be expected to provide a list of other similar sales that have taken place in the same market. Kalamazoo Michigan.

VI. What is the precise Marketing Promotion that you'll conduct to get our Kalamazoo Michigand home sold?

Be wary of someone who plans to use an extravagant company advertisement, open houses or a small website to sell your house. Insist that they are explicit and get documentation for the promotions they pledge!

7. When your listing sells, on average how close is the sale price to the asking price?

You can guess how much you will get for your home based on this performance.

Eight. Calculate the number of buyers that you have contact with. Do you have a list? How do you track your buyers?

Of course, you will have a better chance of selling your home if your agent is working with more buyers. It will also impact price because an agent
with many buyers can set up an auction-like atmosphere where many buyers bid on your home at the same time. Describe the system they use for working with these buyers. The list of buyers should be with them at all times. The more buyers they have, the more some sort of computerized system or database will be needed to keep them all straight. Make sure your agent is willing to show you a list of their buyers.
Note - There is a BIG difference between a list of actual buyers and a print-out of a database. The financial qualifications of the buyer and the property type they're interested in should be included in an actual buyer's list. You won't find any other kind of list nearly as effective as this one.

This is the ninth point What about you is unique? Why should I list my home with you?

It’s a much tougher Kalamazoo real estate market then it was 5 years ago. What unique plans and programs does this agent have in place to make sure that your home in Kalamazoo Michigan
stands out favorably among other competing homes? What does this agent offer to you to sell your home that others don't, with no hassle and for the most amount of money? What technological methods are put into use to assist in the sale of my home? Can you give me a demonstration of that technology? The 24 hour hotlines are the most effective tools in real estate today. They have interactive websites, talking house radio transmitters and fax-on-demand etc. Be sure they show you how it works in your own house.

X. Can I remove my listing any time I desire?

Don't sign a contract unless the agent guarantees in writing that your listing can and will be canceled at your request if you decide not to sell your home, or if you feel that the efforts and marketing techniques of the company are not good enough.

Bonus Question : Ask them how their services compare to other companies and be specific. Inquire as to particular firms.

If they say ANYTHING negative about another company or try to make another company look bad, hire another agent! Get the facts for yourself! In addition, when they boast about their housing sales numbers and how great they are or that they hold the top spot, RUN don't walk away! It seems EVERY Kalamazoo area Realtor is claiming to be 1

By Keller Williams Realty Kalamazoo we urge you to contrast the services of any different firm to our own according to TRUTH instead of FICTION!

If you are considering selling your Kalamazoo area home, one of the best first steps you can take is to ask me to send to you a FREE online market price evaluation.

Simply complete the form below and I will send to you via email a market value analysis using comparable homes in your neighborhood that are currently for sale and those that have recently sold.

Never a hassle. Never an obligation.

Just complete the form below, provide your correct street address as well as your correct email address and I will provide the evaluation to you within a day or so.

For FREE information regarding Kalamazoo homes for sale, visit our Kalamazoo real estate website http://HomesofSWMichigan.com