You're gearing up to sell your home, which is a significant journey, but you need to find a Real Estate agent among the sea of agents - how do you choose?

It's true; not every listing agent is the same. When it comes to your unique journey, not every listing agent will be the best fit for you and your home. Finding the one that is the most compatible with your needs is the essential determining factor.

So, how do you determine the best Real Estate agent for listing your home? Here are the top questions to ask the potential listing agent when selling your Florida home:

1. Can you tell me about your professional experience?

Ask the potential listing agent to tell you about themselves and their Real Estate credentials. Are they a licensed Real Estate Agent? At the very least, make sure they are a licensed Real Estate agent in the State of Florida.

In addition to being an agent, are they a member of the National Association of REALTORS®? If you're looking to take your search one step further, finding an agent that is also a certified REALTOR® and part of the National Association of REALTORS® is an excellent option. Association members have received additional training and are focused on building their expertise and maintaining an ethical Real Estate business through the REALTOR® Code of Ethics. At ERA Grizzard, all of our agents are REALTORS® and practice the highest level of professional standards for Real Estate, and your listing agent should too.

Also, what local Real Estate trade association(s) are they a part of? In case you are brand new to the world of Real Estate, the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) is the driving force of this business and is accessed by joining local Real Estate associations. This is where agents gain entry to an extensive database of home listings and syndicate your home's listing to all the major Real Estate websites and beyond. Often, agents will even be a part of multiple associations to achieve an even larger reach for their sellers.

Do they have any designations or certifications? In the evolving industry of real estate continuing education is a must. Many professional agents take it one step further by further educating themselves in specialties to better assist their customers. These distinctions can range from advanced training such as becoming a graduate of the REALTOR® Institute, GRI® or certifications to better assist a specific buyer or seller such as the Seniors Real Estate Specialists, SRES®. 

2. What does your past sales history look like?

Sales history for the listing agent and their company is an indicator of experience and could tell you if they have worked with similar clients like yourself. Find out where their previous homes sold were located and ask about the price range of those homes. This can give you some insight into knowing if they have experience with your home and market type.

Understanding where an agent's brokerage stands in the overall market competition can help show credibility as well. If the agent is a part of a company with a strong history of success in your local market, it will help prove they indeed have the tools and resources to sell your home successfully.

3. Do you have local experience?

We can not stress enough the importance of working with an agent who is a hyper-local expert. This will give you a considerable advantage with selling and buying insights for your area. A hyper-local agent will be able to tell you anything and everything you need to know about your type of home, your neighborhood, and the current market conditions in your area. 

This includes what buyers are looking for and what price would be most competitive based on your home's location. Most importantly, they will know the entire area's ins and outs and can help determine if nearby development or amenities add more value to your specific home.

4. What advantages does your brokerage offer?

When hiring an ERA Grizzard, REALTOR®, you are also hiring the power of ERA®. You are working with an experienced Real Estate professional, and you also have access to over 50 years of brokerage experience, award-winning services & teams and are in partnership with a company with eight offices located throughout the Central Florida area. 

Ask your agent how long their brokerage has been in business. Do they have top rankings like #1 ERA in Florida, an award-winning marketing department, or a platinum ranking relocation team? Are they an industry-leading agent, or have they received any recent awards? This process is a job interview, so uncovering these additional details will help you understand what you are looking for and need in a listing agent.

5. What marketing strategies do you offer?

Having the local expertise and a glowing resume is great, but that's not all that matters. How does the listing agent plan to market and sell your home as quickly as possible and for top dollar? Your specific home's unique and custom marketing plan is a basic standard in the Real Estate industry today.

Do not just rely on them saying I have a plan. Get the listing agent to go into details on what marketing services they have and will use. At ERA Grizzard, our agents can offer an array of individualized marketing strategies to fit our client needs best. These include items such as:

• Online marketing
• Social media advertising
• Industry-leading websites
• A robust CRM & lead generation tools
• Professional photography
• A Youtube Slideshow
• 3D Home Tour
• TextERA Sign Technology
• Custom Marketing Materials
• Open House Coordination & Execution
• Safe Showing Practices
• & More!

6. Why is that the right price?

Determining the right listing price for your home is a crucial step. If your home is priced too high, you could unintentionally affect your chances of finding potential qualified buyers. In turn, having your home priced too low could leave money on the table for you.

This is where the listing agent's market expertise should shine, but make sure you have the agent walk you through their deliberation on the price of your home. The listing agent should evaluate comparable properties in the area and current market conditions. Remember, the market sets the price of your home, and the listing agent helps to determine what that is.

An experienced listing agent has the market and sales knowledge to help you through one of the most important decisions when selling your home.  

7. What options do you offer outside of a traditional sale?

Selling your home can be worrisome, but it doesn't have to be. There are programs out there that will provide alternatives to listing your home such as cash offers and guaranteed sales. 

One such program is ERA's RealSure:

So, asking the listing agent if they offer other options alongside the traditional sale route is a valid question and can help provide even more peace of mind.

8. How do you show your promise to delivering services?

When hiring services, you want to feel confident the job will be done. And if it is not, you should have every right to refuse compensation or be able to take your need somewhere else without repercussions. 

Therefore, this is a very important question: what happens if the listing agent does not hold up their end of the deal?

We at ERA Grizzard pride ourselves on customer service and transparency. So much so that our ERA Commitment to service is a written agreement, demonstrating our dedication to our clients.

9. Can you help us find a new home?

When selling your home, you might also need help buying a new one. Direct this question to the listing agent, as working with the same agent or team can help make the process smoother.

Many great Real Estate agents and brokerages offer buyer-specific services in tandem with selling your home. ERA Grizzard is proud to provide a number of these services and incentives for buyers, including a complimentary moving concierge, a trusted lender, virtual assistance, lifetime member benefits, and more.

If you're buying a home out of the area, see if your listing agent can refer a reputable local agent. At ERA Grizzard, our award-winning Relocation Department specializes in this service for all our clients. 

10. Do you have examples of your customer service?

The Real Estate industry is all about relationships, and that begins with customer service. Selling your home is one of the most important transactions in your life, and you need it executed properly and professionally. But how do you determine which listing agent encompasses these qualities and can deliver this type of service? Ask for client references or testimonials.

If a Real Estate agent is great, they will indeed be able to provide additional assets to back their claims. If you asked ERA Grizzard, we would provide additional information to show our 99% ERA® Customer Satisfaction Survey rating and being previously awarded the prestigious Jim Jackson Memorial Award from ERA Real Estate for first in service. Not to mention, you can find several 5-star reviews and testimonials on our website and other public-facing sites.

Having trust and staying in the know with your listing agent is essential when selling your home. However, asking these questions can also ensure you have the very best REALTOR® by your side to sell your home quickly and for top dollar.

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