When you are planning to sell your investment property or family home on the Northern Beaches, selecting the right real estate agent is crucial.
The agent you choose can have a significant impact not only on your property’s sale outcome but your entire experience so it is important to think carefully about who to bring on board.
Selling your Northern Beaches home: How to choose a real estate agent
Here’s how to weed out the time wasters and find the real estate agent who’s right for you:
1. Choose local expertise
When choosing the right Northern Beaches real estate agent, you need someone who’s familiar with where your property is located. Agents from outside your suburb might not have the same insights into local market trends or be connected with purchase-ready buyers who are willing to pay a premium.
Here’s why local expertise is invaluable:
- Knowledge of active buyers: Local agents are more likely to know who is actively looking to buy in your area, including who has just missed out on a home, and the limits of their budget.
- Understanding of market trends: Someone based in the area who actively sells properties has a better grasp of current market conditions and understands why some specific streets and home styles have the potential to sell for a premium.
- Ability to sell the lifestyle: While everyone knows Manly Beach and many are familiar with Allambie Heights, there is so much more to be discovered in our area, from Manly Dam and our surrounding National Parklands to best-kept-secret playgrounds and dining venues. An agent familiar with the Northern Beaches lifestyle can share the amazing attractions of our area.
2. Evaluate selling skills and success
An effective real estate agent will have a fantastic track record and plenty of recent reviews. When you’re narrowing down your search, ask about:
- Recent sales: Review the prices achieved by the agent in recent sales and be aware of what other homes are selling for in the area. This can indicate their effectiveness in negotiating and closing deals.
- Marketing and sales strategy: Request a detailed marketing plan to understand how your agent will prepare and market your property.
- References and reviews: Great agents have glowing online reviews. In addition to reading reviews, ask if you can chat with past home sellers to gauge their satisfaction and experiences first hand. A confident agent won’t hesitate to put you in touch with satisfied previous clients.
3. Beware of unrealistic promises
Be wary of agents who offer inflated price estimates in comparison to other valuations. Here’s how to protect yourself from disappointment when a high estimate comes in:
- Request more information: If an agent on your shortlist suggests a far higher price than their competitors, ask for the market analysis they used to arrive at that estimate. Unfortunately, some agents overpromise to get the listing and then ‘readjust expectations’ once you’ve signed with them. Principled operators will share a valuation that’s backed by recent data.
- Read the fine print: Most agents will ask for the exclusive right to list your property for sale but there will be a ‘get out’ clause in their agreement to protect both of you. Make sure this is a time period you are comfortable with.
4. Monitor performance
Understanding how long properties stay on the market can give insights into an agent’s effectiveness. Look for:
- Average time on market: Check how long properties listed by the agent typically remain unsold. A longer time might indicate issues with pricing or marketing.
- Success rate: Evaluate the proportion of properties sold versus listed.
What to ask a potential real estate agent
When interviewing prospective agents to sell your Northern Beaches home or investment property, ensure you cover the following points:
- Local experience: How long have they been working on the Northern Beaches and how many homes have they sold within a five-kilometre radius of your home recently?
- Track record: Can they provide recent examples of successful sales?
- Buyer analysis: Can they identify the most promising buyer group for your property and do they have suggestions for appealing to that market?
- Marketing approach: What strategies will they use to market your property to ensure it reaches as many potential buyers as possible?
- Current vs potential value: Are there any things you can do to improve the home so it will attract more competition and sell for a higher price?
Choosing the right real estate agent to sell a home on the Northern Beaches, particularly in Allambie Heights, Frenchs Forest or surrounding suburbs, involves more than just picking someone with a strong sales pitch. Your first step is to focus on local operators who know the area. From there, take time to have some discussions, ask lots of questions and figure out who you feel comfortable working with.
When you choose well, you’ll be rewarded with a great overall experience and a fantastic result.
Can we help with your Northern Beaches property?
Whether you’re selling, want to rent your property or simply need advice, the team at JDH Real Estate can help. Please give us a call today.