A real estate agent for a seller, often referred to as a seller's agent, performs many functions, including helping you organize your house for sale, set the right price, determine a selling strategy, and negotiate with buyers. This article covers the roles and responsibilities of a seller's agent and what qualities to look for, so you will know how to select the right real estate agent to sell your home.
What is the Sellers' Agent?
A seller's agent represents the seller during the course of selling their property. Seller's agent is the same as a listing agent, and both terms can be used interchangeably.
Listing Consultation
When you are selling your house, the first meeting that you have with a real estate agent is usually known as a listing consultation. During the consultative session, your agent will look at your property and learn more about your aims for selling. They will discuss your home's selling features with you, and suggest improvements that could lift your price.
They will also do a comparative market analysis (CMA), which looks at comparable homes that have sold nearby, to help figure out what your home is worth in the current market and recommend a price to you. A good seller's agent should also bring a marketing strategy to help you realize that price.
Roles of a Listing Agent in Selling a Home
1. Prepare Your Home to Sell
A listing agent with lots of experience will know how to maximize your property value so you can receive top cash for your home. They will be able to figure out which updates you should make to your home to increase its selling price. They will also be able to suggest service providers such as an inspector, handyman, painter, landscaper, stager, etc., who will provide great value and high quality at a reasonable price.
2. Stage Your Home to Sell
Preparing your home is an art. Staging is different from decorating and requires the attention of a professional, especially if you want to make the most out of your sale price. They understand that proper preparation prevents poor performance. Your agent will help you stage your home so that it makes the best first impression among potential buyers. A well-staged home can wow buyers from the time they look at the listing photos, to the moment they walk in the door.
3. Hire An Expert Listing Photographer
An expert real estate agent will assist you in organizing professional photographers, or may even have one as part of the service. Once the home is prepared and staged, it will be ready for a photo shoot. The photographer will also perform a 3D scan of your house so that buyers can view it from every angle online. Many buyers who are not resident in the state or the country would want to have a 3D Walk-through of your house before they spend their time and money to tour it in-person.
These are essential roles real estate agents perform for the seller during the sale of a property. So when you are hiring an agent, don't be afraid to tap into their expertise and learn as much as you can from them.
One of the first things you will notice about Cindy Cassuto of Corcoran Legends Realty, a 24-year seasoned REALTOR®, is that she is soft-spoken, but don’t let that fool you. When Cindy is representing her clients, regardless of whether they are buying or selling a home, she is anything but a pushover. Her slogan is CINDY SELLS HOMES and she works extremely hard to be the best in the business. Her message to her clients is that if you’re successful, I’m successful…which is evidenced by the fact that she is truly at the top of her game.