Once you’ve decided it is the right time to sell your home, choosing the right real estate agent is one of the most important decisions you’ll make in the process. To make this decision less overwhelming, we’ve outlined some important suggestions for finding the right agent to work with.

Ask for Referrals

An easy way to start the process of finding the right real estate agent to sell your property is to ask around. Reach out to friends, family, and colleagues to find out which agents they’ve worked with and what their experience was. This can be a good first step to come up with a list of a few agents that you may want to look into.

Read Reviews

Once you’ve come up with a few names, check online reviews to get a better sense of the experience of working with some of the agents on your list. There are tons of sites – from Yelp.com, to Glassdoor.com, to Google Business reviews and more – that have detailed reviews and rankings from clients who have worked with the agents in your city. 

Check Listings Sold

Once you have a few potential agents in mind, you should take a look at their sales over the last few years. Pay particular attention to homes sold within the price range of the home you’re selling. Consider the sales-to-list price ratio and the average days on the market of the homes they’ve sold. 

Selling for the first time or just need a refresher? Download our free Seller’s Guide—it’s a quick, practical resource to help you move forward with confidence. Just fill out a short form to get your copy.

Meet with Multiple Agents

Once you’ve taken the above steps, the next step is to choose a small list of potential agents, usually about 3-5, and begin the process of interviewing them. Here are some useful areas to ask about:

Marketing Abilities

Look for an agent who is comfortable with a variety of marketing mediums and strategies, and who has a large network to help resource tactics that will help your home sell quicker. It is useful to have an agent with connections to photographers, staging companies, etc., who can help maximize the appeal of your property. 

Familiarity With the Area

For most homebuyers, the neighbourhood is equally as important as the home itself when considering making a purchase. An agent’s knowledge of local schools, parks, demographics, crime rates, etc., can reassure a buyer and help them to envision themselves living in this new environment.

Current Listings

You’ll want to inquire about how many other clients the agent is currently working with. If they have too many listings, they may not have time to give you and your home the proper attention. On the other hand, too few listings can be a warning sign, too. You should also find out whether the agent will be handling your listing personally or if you’ll be working with other members of their team.

---

If you’re ready to sell your home, let us help you pair you with the right Sotheby’s International Realty Canada real estate agent to meet your needs.