By Thanasis Stamou – Director of INVESTA Real Estate
Are you thinking of selling or renting your property and you are not sure which broker and which brokerage company you should work with?
Study in the article the correct evaluation of the good broker and learn what you really need to know to distinguish the real professional.
The 8 critical questions you need to ask to understand if the broker next to you is among the leaders in the field are the following:
1. How long have you been active in the field of Real Estate?
The broker's experience and track record are important. We avoid entrusting our property to friends or acquaintances simply to help them. We need to clarify with evaluation questions the efficiency of the prospective broker. For example: Does he have a real estate license? Does he work full-time or part-time? What is the average number of days it takes to sell the properties it undertakes? How many properties did you sell last year?
2. What is the Real Estate Marketing Plan he uses?
The marketing plan includes all the ways the broker will use to promote your property. Will he use a professional photographer? Will he be shooting video of the property? How will he present them? How will he describe the property and how does he intend to highlight all its advantages? All this should be done in a creative way that attracts as many potential buyers as possible. Don't forget: The right professional realtor commits and invests money in promoting the property he undertakes.
3. Does it have referrals from past clients?
Ask to see written references from past clients ideally published online, social media, search engines or at least written letters of recommendation in paper or email. You can also ask him to put you in touch with his past satisfied customers.
4. Does it belong to a well-known brokerage firm?
A Real Estate Consultant belonging to an established firm with a good reputation is very important. An organized company has perfect infrastructures such as, for example, 24/7 telephone service so that no call is missed for any property. Also, such a company has gained a reputation and attracts many prospective buyers. In addition, properly organized companies have trained brokers, able to work as a team for your benefit and cope with any challenge.
5. Is the online business presence strong?
Is the prospective Real Estate Consultant active on social media? Has it been modernized with the technological data that today's market demands or is it still operating in the old traditional way? Does his company have an organized website? Does it have a corporate social media presence? Does it advertise regularly online as well as in print? Does he make professional use and properly exploit online real estate portals? Does he use email marketing techniques?
6. How frequent will the communication / information about the process of promoting the property be?
The Real Estate Consultant should make a commitment to you right from the start regarding the frequency and manner in which he will inform you about the actions and progress of the promotion of your property. With this commitment you address the well-known complaint of property owners around the world about lack of communication from their realtor.
7. What is the brokerage fee?
The issue of the brokerage fee must be clarified from the beginning. Brokerage companies have different schemes and fee rates that you can easily compare.
8. Does he have negotiation skills?
You need to feel confident that the realtor you will be entrusting your property with will negotiate hard to maximize your benefit. Through the conversation you will have and the questions you will ask him, you will understand whether he is a skilled negotiator or whether he accepts without a fight what you propose to him.
Thanasis Stamou is the director of
INVESTA Real Estate - Larissa real estate agency. He has experience in the field of real estate since 2005. He is a real estate agent, appraiser, negotiator and investment advisor. Specializes in training Real Estate Consultants.
