The Right Agent
THE RIGHT AGENT - MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER Most vendors want the agent who will get them the highest price without undue stress and in a reasonable time frame, and rightly so. But what sort of skills does an agent need to achieve all this in a market where properties for sale outnumber buyers? When the going gets tougher, there is more emphasis on marketing and the agent's ability to communicate. After all, to attract the interest of purchasers who have many properties to choose from, an agent needs to communicate the benefits and features of your home in a way that makes it stand out to intending purchasers. More than ever, communication in the form of negotiating skills will come into play. In boom times when there are more purchasers than properties for sale, agents frequently find the prices jumping ahead of even their best expectations; in a slower market however, agents may have to use all their negotiation knowhow to achieve looked-for prices. The agent you choose to sell your single greatest asset should be able to demonstrate professionalism at every stage of marketing . Remember that the agent who offers to put the highest asking price on your property is not necessarily the one with the expertise to achieve the best price in the long run. And agents who offer the lowest commission often can’t afford to put together the kind of marketing programme that will achieve the best result. In boom times, properties often sell before the serious marketing has got underway; in the current climate, the right marketing programme as well as the right asking price may be all too crucial. Intending vendors should put their own communication skills to good use in the leadup to putting their home on the market. They should ask around and find out which agent has the best reputation in their local area. If they seek out people who have recently sold they can ask the pertinent questions and get the benefit of firsthand experience.

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