How do home sellers and home buyers find a real estate agent?

Most people would hire an agent from their circle of friends and relatives, someone referred by family, or look for a broker on the internet.

The fact is that when you are selling or buying a house, you are placing in the hands of your real estate agent the most important transaction in your lifetime.

Your choice of real estate agent is the single most important decision that would influence the end result of your real estate transaction.

You can succeed in selling your home for a great price or spend sleepless nights because of it.

It takes only 2 minutes to request for free real estate proposals from real estate agents in your area.

Fill-out our online form and meet the best real estate agents near you.

Compare Real Estate Agent Commissions and Fees

To most home sellers, the real estate commission is a critical factor in hiring a real estate agent.

The truth is that there is no fixed percentage for real estate agent commissions. While some people may think that real estate commissions are too high, it is important to understand a few things about real estate transactions.

Unlike other services, real estate agents get compensated based on results.  You hire a lawyer to represent you and win or lose, you pay his legal fees.  For real estate agents, though, they don’t get paid if the house doesn’t sell.

What is the average real estate agent commission in Canada?

There are average commission rates per province that range from 5% to 7%.  But this is far from being set in stone and clients do negotiate commission rates.

The commission paid by the seller is split between the selling agent and the buyer’s agent.

How should you compare real estate agent commissions?

There are full-service real estate agents who offer comprehensive services to sell a house which includes:

• MLS listing
• Advertising online and other media
• Professional photography for marketing
• Flyers and other materials

There are also real estate agents who participate in flat fee services or discount real estate services.  When comparing real estate agent commissions, you need to check what services will be part and parcel of their fees, track record, and quality of services.

You can compare real estate agents with a better understanding of real estate commissions and how they work.

Home Sellers Benefit Tremendously  from Real Estate Agent Services

Recent changes in the real estate industry have given home buyers and sellers more options. This is especially helpful for sellers on a tight budget.

It is now possible to simply pay for MLS listing without hiring a real estate agent or to obtain online marketing for a flat fee.

However, flying solo is not something that everyone can do.  Selling a house demands time, focus, and skills.  In the end, the commission you save may be small compared to the headaches, the stress, and the financial loss you could end up with.

Selling a house involves a gamut of tasks which include:

• Determining an asking price based on current market values
• Marketing and advertising the property for sale
• Attending to potential buyers, home viewings, phone calls, and offers
• Vetting a potential buyer and negotiating sale price and conditions
• Becoming familiar with real estate contracts and requirements
• Handling the closing and turn-over

If you sell a house without a real estate agent, time won’t be on your side.  You are busy with a career, a family, as well as preparing for a life after your home is sold.

Mistakes could cost you thousands more than the commission you save.

Compelling Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Agent

With so much information on the internet, many people are emboldened to try selling a house privately to save on real estate agent fees.

Some people can probably manage to sell a house but many more discover too late that it is not an easy thing to do.

Consider the following facts:

• Around 90% of home sellers prefer to sell with a real estate agent. For this reason, For Sale by Owner homes (FSBO) only makes up a small percentage of listings.
• Many property listings that begin as FSBO are ultimately listed with a real estate agent.
• FSBO homes sell for lower prices compared to homes sold by real estate agents.

Home owners may know their property best, down to the last detail.  But they are not always the best person to sell their property.

Skills that make a good real estate agent

Selling a house requires specific knowledge and training that real estate agents acquire through years of education and experience.

• They possess a good understanding of the real estate market
• They know home buying and selling trends
• They are familiar with real estate laws and practices
• They have experience with the best marketing tactics that produce great results
• They possess negotiating skills that can get the best price for a home

What are the significant reasons to hire a real estate agent to sell a house?

1. Hiring the best real estate agent saves you time and money.

If you are selling your house, you are also most likely preparing to move, or even buying a new home.  With the right real estate agent, you have more time to focus on your own needs while an expert takes care of selling your home.  Even more important, you can feel more confident about getting the best price for your house which you can use to build a new life.  Statistics show that properties sold by an agent sell significantly higher than homes sold privately.

2. Real estate agents know the best local neighborhoods and home values.

Whether you are looking to sell or buy a home, real estate agents know the neighborhood and what the price of a home is based on market value.  Agents have comparable sales that can help you to determine selling price.

3. Real estate agents know market conditions that can help you to make important decisions.

Many buyers and sellers are faced with tough decisions during the process – whether to buy first or sell first, where to buy, how much they can afford.  Real estate agents have a wealth of information about market conditions such as how long it may take to sell your home that can be valuable to your decision-making.

4. Convenience and easier access for buyers and sellers.

When a house is placed on the market, the objective is to get as wide a response as possible from buyers. If you have a real estate agent, he will be responding to all inquiries and offers, show the home to interested parties, and answer questions.  Without an agent, you will field all these calls and make appointments with buyers.  You need to be available and accessible; otherwise buyers move on to other properties.

5. Real estate agents handle the difficult paperwork.

Closing on a home sale requires a lot of paperwork. From the time an offer to purchase is made, critical steps are taken to ensure a smooth and hassle-free transaction.

Your real estate agent can also help with drafting the offer to ensure you include conditions that are important such as financing, home inspection, etc.

Many individuals want to save money by selling their own house.  In truth, a good real estate agent can sell a home for a higher price faster, even after a commission is paid.

The bottom line is that selling a house with a real estate agent is more convenient, more efficient, and hassle-free.

Real Estate Agents sell Homes Faster at 15% higher Selling Price

You’ll see this on most real estate websites and you wonder if it is true. Can a real estate agent really get a higher price for your home than you can?

From the time a broker looks at your home for sale, he will be thinking of ways to enhance its value and which features would get the best price for it.

He will suggest to you ways to stage the home and how to present it to buyers highlighting its best features.

Real estate agents are sharks. They have sharp negotiation skills and will have comparable sales data to support your selling price.

And because they have a vast network of contacts and resources, real estate agents can find the right buyer for your home more easily than you can.

When you interview potential real estate agents, you need to ask them some critical questions?

• How many similar properties have you sold in this area recently?
• Will you help me stage my home?
• How do you plan to market my property?
• What is the average time it takes you to sell your listings?
• Will you have open houses or by appointment only?
• How did you calculate the best listing price?

You can assess a real estate agent’s skills with these questions to help you choose the right one for selling your house.

Free Real Estate Proposals to Compare Real Estate Agents

Choosing a real estate agent to sell a home is not something you do lightly.  Your choice of broker will determine how successful and pleasant your real estate transaction turns out.

Best Results and Value – these are the 2 most critical factors you can expect when you hire a good real estate agent.

The best way to find a good real estate agent is to COMPARE. When you fill-out our online request form, you will receive 3 free proposals from real estate agents that specialize in your neighborhood.

You can view real estate agent profiles, experience, and service from the comfort of your home.

These proposals are free and no obligation – a win-win solution to a very important decision you need to make.

Compare real estate agents in your area to find the best person to sell your property.