Sellers
3 Secrets Sellers Wish Their Listing Agent Knew
Be Aware of These Secrets Your Sellers Will Never Tell You
1. Open House. Sellers absolutely want you to hold regular open houses at their property. While most agents will whine about doing this, you should be more than willing. It’s an opportunity to meet new clients and showcase your talents as a great listing agent. Bring your fabulous marketing materials and sell yourself.
2. Communication. They want you to be a great communicator. Talk to your sellers on a weekly basis. Give them showing feedback, suggestions on areas to improve upon, information on new/pending/sold comps in their area, etc. Don’t ignore them! If sellers have to keep reminding you to communicate with them, you’re not doing a good job.
3. Testimonials. If you sell their property in a timely manner and they really enjoyed working with you, sellers will reward you with repeat business and referrals for years to come. Word-of-mouth is free advertising for you. If they’re not pleased with your performance, your sellers will bad mouth you to everyone they know.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in blogs on this website are solely those of Marcy Sanders. The information provided on this site is for general informational and educational purposes only.
OrganizeMeForms™ (85) Exclusively Designed Real Estate Forms & Checklists – Providing Real Estate Professionals, their Customers and Teams with a unique collection of detailed forms to keep them on-track with task management. The solution agents have been waiting for!
5 Simply Awesome Ways to Satisfy Sellers
Do You Really Know What Makes Your Sellers Happy?
- Great Communication. Communicate with sellers weekly. Keep them informed of showings, market activity in their neighborhood, marketing initiatives, etc.
- Open House. Host an open house as often as possible. Chances that you’ll find the right buyer for this property during an open house are slim, but this event is actually a great opportunity to sell yourself.
- Marketing. Have a comprehensive marketing plan in place. Consistently email your sellers making them aware of when and where their property is being advertised.
- Sold. Sell their property in a reasonable amount of time. In doing so, it must first be properly priced.
- Closing Process. Use the OrganizeMeForms™ Closing Checklist and customer closing forms. Follow every step and pay attention to contingency dates. You’re the ringleader — maintain great communication with the mortgage broker, title processor and sellers over the course of the closing process.
Be highly organized and detail oriented throughout the process of selling their property. In doing so, you’ll be rewarded with repeat business and referrals for years to come.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in blogs on this website are solely those of Marcy Sanders. The information provided on this site is for general informational and educational purposes only.
OrganizeMeForms™ (85) Exclusively Designed Real Estate Forms & Checklists – Providing Real Estate Professionals, their Customers and Teams with a unique collection of detailed forms to keep them on-track with task management. The solution agents have been waiting for!
Critical Questions Sellers Must Ask Before Listing
Questions to Ask an Agent During the Listing Presentation
- Experience. How long have you been selling real estate? Full time or part time?
- Sales. How many properties have you sold over the last 12 months?
- Fees. What is your commission?
- Luxury Market. If the property is in a luxury market — How many properties have you listed and sold over the last year in a luxury market?
- Marketing. How do you plan to advertise our property? Where do you advertise your listings i.e. print, website. social media channels etc.?
- Listing Agreement. How long are we committed to the agreement? What if we’re not pleased, are there repercussions if we want to terminate the agreement?
Sellers should always interview at least 2-3 agents. Never list with an agent solely because he or she is an acquaintance or friend-of-a-friend. Make sure the agent is qualified, highly organized and your personalities mesh well together. Be crystal clear on communication expectations with your agent.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in blogs on this website are solely those of Marcy Sanders. The information provided on this site is for general informational and educational purposes only.
OrganizeMeForms™ (85) Exclusively Designed Real Estate Forms & Checklists – Providing Real Estate Professionals, their Customers and Teams with a unique collection of detailed forms to keep them on-track with task management. The solution agents have been waiting for!
Avoid These 10 Mistakes When Dealing with High-End Sellers
Missteps Listing Agents Should Avoid
- Lack of Communication. Not consistently communicating with sellers. Sellers want to be kept up-to-date on all activity surrounding the sale of their property.
- Not Pre-Qualifying Buyers. Always make sure prospects are pre-qualified before showing the property.
- Ineffective Marketing. Sellers will insist that you have an impressive and comprehensive marketing plan. Have a variety of aerial photos taken and mark the property lines on them. Create fabulous flyers and feature sheets. Advertise in luxury home magazines.
- Unavailable for Showings. Sellers will want you to be present during all showings (not your Assistant!). Make time prior to each showing to expertly stage the property.
- Not Tech Savvy. High-end properties will typically have very expensive and complex lighting, alarm and sound systems. Make sure you spend enough time with the sellers showing you how it all works and take good notes. If the property is vacant, feel free to use sticky notes on switches and controls so you remember how they operate.
- No Inventory List. If the property is being sold with all contents included in the sale you need to immediately do a full inventory of every item in that property. Make sure the sellers advise you what items are personal and they’re taking with them. Have the sellers review and sign off on the inventory list.
- Lacking Keys & Clickers. If the property is vacant make sure that you get all keys for doors, windows, garage, attic access door, boat lift as well as gate and garage door clickers etc. Collect all of those from the Sellers when the property is listed and keep them in a secure place. If a home inspector needs any of those keys during an inspection and they’re not available, the sellers will blame you.
- Not Monitoring Their Property. If this isn’t the sellers primary residence, you’ll have a second job title “Mr/Ms Home Watch.” Sellers will expect you to be their eyes and ears if anything is going wrong with their property i.e. pool isn’t being cleaned, grass isn’t being cut, A/C isn’t working, toilet overflowed, damage from mother nature, etc. Update sellers on the condition of their property on a weekly basis.
- No Impressive Realtor Tour. Sellers will want you to hold a grand broker’s open for your fellow agents and brokers. Be creative and make sure you have delicious food and beverages available. They’ll stay longer if you do! Don’t forget to use the OrganizeMeForms™ “Realtor Tour Sign-In” form so you know who attended and capture their invaluable feedback to share with your sellers.
- No Market Updates. Your sellers will want to know what similar properties in their neighborhood are new, pending or sold. Add your sellers as prospects in the MLS so they get automated email notifications of market activity for their area.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in blogs on this website are solely those of Marcy Sanders. The information provided on this site is for general informational and educational purposes only.
OrganizeMeForms™ (85) Exclusively Designed Real Estate Forms & Checklists – Providing Real Estate Professionals, their Customers and Teams with a unique collection of detailed forms to keep them on-track with task management. The solution agents have been waiting for! Start using OrganizeMeForms™ today and soon you’ll be on your way to becoming a successful top producer.
Sellers Stay Away
4 Occasions You Never Want Your Sellers Present
As a listing agent, you need to be an adviser to your sellers. You need to inform them of the best course of action in selling their home quickly and efficiently.
Realtor Tour. You want your peers viewing your listing to feel at ease and have the ability to speak freely to you, as well as to other agents in attendance, about the pros/cons of the property.
Open House. Prospective buyers, prospective sellers, neighbors at the open house will all be more content if the seller is not present. The open house may not bring the perfect buyer, but it’s an opportunity for you to increase your Sphere of Influence.
Showing. Prospective buyers will feel more comfortable if the seller is not present. They will be more inclined to envision themselves living in the property, where they’d place their furniture and feel at ease talking with the selling agent.
Home Inspection. The buyers and the home inspector need privacy and the ability to move freely throughout the property without having the sellers tagging along. You can inform them that once the inspection is completed you’ll receive a summary report from the selling agent that you’ll share and discuss it with them.
During the above times, tell your sellers to place valuables and highly personal items out-of-sight or securely locked away.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in blogs on this website are solely those of Marcy Sanders. The information provided on this site is for general informational and educational purposes only.
OrganizeMeForms™ (85) Exclusively Designed Real Estate Forms & Checklists – Providing Real Estate Professionals, their Customers and Teams with a unique collection of detailed forms to keep them on-track with task management. The solution agents have been waiting for! Start using OrganizeMeForms™ today and soon you’ll be on your way to becoming a successful top producer. Click on the button below to order now!
Home Inspection For Older Properties
SELLERS HOME INSPECTION
Listing Agents should encourage their sellers to have a home inspection done by a Licensed Home Inspector immediately after they obtain a listing (especially if the property is older). Having a home inspection report available to prospective buyers gives them peace of mind that there are no major defects. Also, by having a home inspection done up front it will uncover any defects the sellers were unaware of and those issues can be fixed from the get-go. The only drawback to doing this is if the property doesn’t sell quickly then the home inspection report would eventually be outdated. Typically, once there is a contract on the property the buyers will want their own home inspection report and they will pay for it. Having the sellers obtain a home inspection report gives them, and the Listing Agent, the insight on defects and the time to remedy them from the beginning of the listing. Being organized and proactive is a plus! Provide your sellers with qualified referrals to get repairs completed for items noted on the home inspection report. The report also let’s prospective buyers know the property is defect free. Or, if there were issues you can show prospective buyers the receipts for the work that was completed.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in blogs on this website are solely those of Marcy Sanders. The information provided on this site is for general informational and educational purposes only.
OrganizeMeForms™ (85) Exclusively Designed Real Estate Forms & Checklists – Providing Real Estate Professionals, their Customers and Teams with a unique collection of detailed forms to keep them on-track with task management. The solution agents have been waiting for! Start using OrganizeMeForms™ today and soon you’ll be on your way to becoming a successful top producer. Click on the button below to order now!
Sellers Showing Tip
Sellers Should Not Be Home During Showings
It’s beneficial for sellers not to be home during showings. It makes the buyers more at ease when looking around the property. The selling agent will want the ability to talk freely with his/her buyers as they navigate around the property. Additionally, it makes it difficult for potential buyers to visualize themselves living in the space if sellers are there.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in blogs on this website are solely those of Marcy Sanders. The information provided on this site is for general informational and educational purposes only.
OrganizeMeForms™ (85) Exclusively Designed Real Estate Forms & Checklists – Providing Real Estate Professionals, their Customers and Teams with a unique collection of detailed forms to keep them on-track with task management. The solution agents have been waiting for! Start using OrganizeMeForms™ today and soon you’ll be on your way to becoming a successful top producer. Click on the button below to order now!
Most Desired Listing Agent Attributes
Highly Desired Attributes Most Sellers Want In a Listing Agent
- Great track record for selling properties quickly. (How many properties has the agent sold in the last 12 months? What was the list price and sold price of those properties?)
- Works full-time.
- Go-getter.
- Integrity.
- Honest.
- Diligent.
- Results driven.
- Friendly personality.
- Aggressive.
- Highly experienced negotiator.
- Several years of real estate experience.
- Knowledgeable about real estate in my neighborhood.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in blogs on this website are solely those of Marcy Sanders. The information provided on this site is for general informational and educational purposes only.
OrganizeMeForms™ (80) Exclusively Designed Real Estate Forms & Checklists – Providing Real Estate Professionals, their Customers and Teams with a unique collection of detailed forms to keep them on-track with task management. The solution agents have been waiting for! Start using OrganizeMeForms™ today and soon you’ll be on your way to becoming a successful top producer. Click on the button below to order now!
Seller Home Inspection
Older Property – Seller Should Get a Home Inspection ASAP
If you’re listing an older property, not being sold as-is, advise the sellers that it’s a good idea to go ahead and have a home inspection done after you’ve listed it. The report will reveal any defects that need to be addressed from the get-go. Having the sellers make any necessary repairs immediately will help in the selling process. No hidden issues! The juice is well worth the squeeze
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in blogs on this website are solely those of Marcy Sanders. The information provided on this site is for general informational and educational purposes only.
OrganizeMeForms™ (80) Exclusively Designed Real Estate Forms & Checklists – Providing Real Estate Professionals, their Customers and Teams with a unique collection of detailed forms to keep them on-track with task management. The solution agents have been waiting for! Start using OrganizeMeForms™ today and soon you’ll be on your way to becoming a successful top producer. Click on the button below to order now!
Form Spotlight – Remote Seller Checklist
Remote Seller Checklist
The Listing Agent would use this checklist when the listing is not the sellers primary residence. In luxury, vacation and second home markets, typically the property will not be the sellers primary residence. The checklist will provide the Listing Agent with invaluable knowledge about the property in the absence of the sellers living there year-round or never occupying the property at all. For example — Is there a caretaker? Is the property tenant occupied? Other than the sellers, who has access to the property? etc. All of the questions on the checklist are specifically designed to give the Listing Agent key information they need to know from the remote sellers about their new listing.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in blogs on this website are solely those of Marcy Sanders. The information provided on this site is for general informational and educational purposes only.
OrganizeMeForms™ (80) Exclusively Designed Real Estate Forms & Checklists – Providing Real Estate Professionals, their Customers and Teams with a unique collection of detailed forms to keep them on-track with task management. The solution agents have been waiting for! Start using OrganizeMeForms™ today and soon you’ll be on your way to becoming a successful top producer. Click on the button below to order now!
