Choosing the Right Realtor

My friend in Omaha called me with the problem of choosing the right Realtor to sell her home. She has several friends “in the business” and she wasn’t sure what to do.

I hear that same thing when interviewing to list a home for sale. Home sellers just don’t know how to make a decision when choosing the right Realtor.

Once I am chosen, I always ask them why they chose me over their other Realtor friends. Typically they tell me they like the passion I have about creating their best Model Home Look and they know my average house sells in 3 days or less and for thousands over the asking price. Those 2 things set me apart from the other agents.

There are over 10,000 Realtors in the Kansas City area. It seems as though everybody knows a dozen or so Realtors. What is the trick when choosing the right Realtor to sell your home? And is it really that big of a deal? YES it is…it’s huge because it’s your money at stake!

How People Choose an Agent

I like to ask people why they chose that person to list their home for sale. There are so many different answers but never one I’m looking for. It just proves, real estate is very confusing to most people and yet the public perceives every agent to be the same. As my home inspector recently said, “The public sees us – Realtors and Home Inspectors – as all just a can of green beans.” 🙁

Here are a few examples of what people tell me:

• She’s my niece and just got her license and needs the money
• My neighbor would never speak to me again if I didn’t list my home with her
• We’ve been friends with them for years
• She went to college with my husband and when we bumped into them recently, we felt obligated to use her (someone actually used that one on me years ago)
• She goes to my church

Really? What’s the one thing all of those answers have in common? It’s all about the other person and the relationship you have with them. If you were having brain surgery and you knew a brain surgeon, would you go with that person or would you get a couple of different opinions?

Get a second opinion

Real estate is no different. Interview different agents. You should get different vibes after talking to them about the big business of selling your home.

Unfortunately, you may have forgotten a couple of details in all the hubbub of thinking about selling your home. This is about you, your home, and your money.

Choosing the right Realtor is not about the agent or the relationship you have with them. As much as you want to think that selling your home is personal, it’s really not. It may be personal to you but it’s a business transaction. At the end of the transaction, it will either make you money or cost you money depending on who you choose.

Just because someone goes to your church doesn’t necessarily mean they are the right Realtor to sell your house. Then what happens at church if things don’t go well when selling your home?

Choosing the Right Realtor

I’m not here to criticize other agents. I merely want to open your eyes to the fact that there is a difference in agents. You may not get the results you want if you choose an agent based on all the wrong reasons.

A few years ago, I received a call from a seller whose house had been on the market for over 6 months. It hadn’t sold and she was referred to me by a mutual friend. After going to the house, it didn’t sell because it was a horrible house, in a great neighborhood but the agent didn’t do anything to try to get it sold. The sellers had moved out but had left random stuff throughout the house. It showed terribly but I worked my tail off to sell that one and finally got it done.

Choosing an agent to sell your home in Overland Park should be based on their track record and what they can do for you to sell your house for the most money and in the shortest period of time – period.

The longer your house is on the market, the less money you will receive. So if you choose an agent whose average days on the market is 29, you’re probably going to have a couple of price reductions before you sell.

Remember, it’s your money! It has nothing to do with the agent. Are they capable of getting you the results you want or not? Have they done it for others?

Not all Agents Get the Same Results

Unfortunately, not all agents get the same results. I know that’s hard to hear. After all, your own family member, neighbor, or friend wouldn’t steer you wrong, would they? They aren’t going to tell you another agent might get you better results. But the truth of the matter is, Realtors, don’t have to be real good at their trade. That’s why there are so many of them. If they hang in there long enough, they will get the job done. But, it can be a long process with your money flying out the window as the days go by.

If you consider the current average days on the market for a resale house in Johnson County is 38 days, are you ok with that?

Every agent has their own statistics based on the results they get when listing a house for sale. They are available in our local MLS System.

Here are 4 Questions to ask any Agent:

1. Average days on the market for your listings? (from list date to contract date)
2. Original list price to final sale price? In other words, does your average listing have price reductions before selling? Or does it start out overpriced?
3. What percentage of the houses you list actually close?
4. Tell me 3 things you’re going to do to sell my house that another agent isn’t going to do. Please let me know what they tell you – I’d be curious!

If you interviewed 3 different agents and asked them these 4 questions, I’ll bet you would have a different perspective than what you thought. Just because you put your house on the market, doesn’t mean it will sell. MLS doesn’t sell houses. Your agent sells houses.

When you list your home with someone you know, it’s assumed they will do the best job for you. Did they tell you their plan to sell your home quickly and for the most money? Have they sold homes before quickly and for the most money?

In conclusion

Ask the right questions and you should be able to make a business decision about how to choose the right Realtor to sell your home in Overland Park. Results don’t lie. And if you base your decision on their results, it shouldn’t put a strain on your relationship. You chose the agent that had the best credentials to sell your house. It was a business decision you made regarding your money.

My success stories show that my sellers all received the attention to detail when it came to selling their home. I told them the truth about what it would take to get the best results.

If you are thinking about selling your home in Overland Park, call me at (913) 515-3250 or contact me here. I have solid answers to the above questions and would love to have the opportunity to show you how I will create your home’s best look so it sells faster and for more money.

Search for homes

You can start your search for homes here through our local MLS where new listings originate. Zillow then takes them from us and they will hound you forever.

Be sure to check out the newest, latest new listings of homes for sale in Overland Park below. Call or text me at (913) 515-3250 if there is anything you’d love to see!

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(all data current as of 9/21/2023)

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