When it comes to selling your home, one piece of advice always stands out: choosing the wrong agent can cost you thousands.
A glossy brochure and high-value appraisal may look great on paper, but may no longer shine if you end up working with the assistant, rather than the lead agent you trusted (and chose).
The key to deciding on the right professional is knowing the right questions to ask. From pricing strategy and negotiation skills, to how they run the campaign – we’ve listed the 4 big questions to cut through the sales pitch, and make every prospective seller confident in their choice of agent from the first meeting.
1. Who will be running the sale campaign?
It’s vital to know whether the agent you’re meeting will be personally handling your sale, or if the work will be passed onto their team. Support staff play an important role, but it’s good to know how the team operates, what the next steps are, and who will guide the negotiations on your home from start to end.
2. What’s your pricing strategy?
Every agent has a different approach to setting price expectations, so this is certainly where seasoned professionals can really stand out. Before committing, understand whether they provide a formal pricing guide based on recent sales in your area, and how they determine the best starting price. And remember, the highest appraisal might look tempting – but overpricing can be a sign of an inexperienced agent, and lead to longer days on market and lower buyer interest in the end.
3. How do you handle negotiations?
It’s been said that negotiation is where an agent truly earns their fee, and for good reason; a skilled agent won’t just accept the first offer that arrives, but will know how to leverage it to maximise your sale price. Ask if the agent has an approach to handling multiple offer scenarios, as those who are learning the ropes often aren’t equipped to handle circumstances like these.
4. What’s your track record?
Perhaps one of the points you can expect a good agent to be ready to share is their past performance. Ask the agent to walk you through their local sales history, what their average days on market are, and how often they achieve sales to expectations. This will help you gauge whether they consistently deliver results in your local market, where it counts.
A successful agent is more than just a friendly face at open homes; they’re responsible for guiding you through one of the most important decisions of a lifetime, driven by pricing, marketing, buyer relationships and negotiation skills. So it’s important not just to opt with the biggest promise – rather, who can prove their process, their results, and commitment to your home.
Prudential Real Estate Macquarie Fields | (02) 9605 5333 | macquariefields@prudential.com.au
Prudential Real Estate Narellan | (02) 4624 4400 | narellan@prudential.com.au
