How to Choose a Realtor® as a First-Time Home Seller
Selling a home can be stressful, especially if it’s your first time. Navigating the uncharted world of real estate is daunting, especially if you’re doing it alone. That said, we cannot stress enough how important it is for first-time home sellers to choose a Realtor ® they can trust.
If you’re a first-time home seller, there’s no need to stress! Luckily, we’re here to help you find an experienced Realtor® like the ones at Mark Spain Real Estate. Our seasoned listing consultants have decades of industry experience and are beyond equipped to help you sell your first home. When you work with our team, you’ll see that selling a home isn’t as scary as it seems. Let us ease your nerves by reading our guide on choosing a Realtor® as a first-time home seller.
How to Choose a Realtor® as a First-Time Home Seller
Determine Your Selling Needs and Goals
As a first-time seller, your ultimate goal is to get through the selling process unscathed. However, you might also have some other objectives driving you through the home-selling process. Perhaps you just got a new job and need to sell a home in a time crunch. Or maybe your property is too outdated, and you’re looking to sell a home as-is. Ultimately, every seller has unique reasons for putting their home on the market. Your job is to determine those needs and find a Realtor® who can meet them. Before you search for a real estate agent, figure out what exactly you’re looking for so you can find an agent with experience that aligns with those goals.
Compare Agents Online
Once you’ve determined your selling needs, it’s time to start shopping for agents. This step might take a lot of research, but it will be worth it. You’ll want to compile several prospects and dive deep into each agent’s website, social media, and online reviews. If you live in a smaller market, you might ask friends, family, and other community members to share their opinions.
Conducting thorough research will give you a good idea of an agent’s background, from the types of property they sell to their most prominent markets. As you compare agents, you might examine the following measurable factors to find your best fit:
- A high volume of home sales in your price range
- High sale-to-list ratio
- Below-average days spent on the market
- Top-rated client reviews
Interview At Least 3 Agents
As a first-time home seller, your next step is to meet each candidate face-to-face. Generally, we recommend narrowing down your search to three Realtors® before you begin interviews. This will allow you to give each candidate your undivided attention and help you make a careful selection. During this meeting, you and your agent should outline the commission structure, listing price, and contract length in writing to solidify the details. In doing so, you should also ask each Realtor® valuable questions, such as: 
- Are you a full or part-time agent?
- How long have you been in the real estate industry?
- Do you operate solo or with a team?
- What are your most used selling strategies?
- How do you approach pricing a home?
- Do you conduct comparative market analysis?
- What are your main ways of communicating with clients?
- Do you primarily sell homes or assist buyers?
- How many active clients do you have at a time?
- What property type/market is your specialty?
- What is your experience with my specific property type and market?
Request References
To conclude your interviews, you should ask candidates for references. For this step, you will stick with the rule of three and ask each Realtor® for contact information from at least three of their past clients. As you reach out to these clients, ask them about their respective agent’s response time, communication skills, and efficiency throughout the selling process. Learn about how good of a listener the agent was, if they lined up serious buyers, if they were prompt throughout the closing process, etc. The more questions you ask, the more likely you’ll find the right agent for you.
Review Listing Agreement
Reviewing your listing agreement is your final step in the Realtor® selection process. This contract will legally bind you and your selected agent and officially kickstart the selling process. Before signing on the dotted line, thoroughly review your listing agreement to ensure everything is as your agent promised. 
Some parts of the contract you should triple-check are the length, commission rate, exit clause, and listing details. For extra precaution, you might also have a real estate lawyer review this contract as well. Then, once you’ve asked all your questions and made copies of the agreement, it’s time to make a decision!
Sell Your First Home With Mark Spain Real Estate
Are you a first-time home seller? The industry professionals at Mark Spain Real Estate are here to help you put your home on the market! Delivering unparalleled customer satisfaction, our team of experienced listing consultants promises a smooth, stress-free selling experience! Check out our Guaranteed Offer Program for the potential to receive a competitive cash offer on your home in only 21 days. Contact our agents today!
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