It’s a big decision to make when choosing the right real estate agent to sell your home. Because your home is most likely your most valuable asset, selecting the right real estate agent has a direct impact on how quickly you sell, how many potential buyers are interested in your home, and how much you sell for.
If the agent is active in your area, that is one of the most important factors to consider. Their local knowledge and expertise can often help you in selling your home more quickly and for the highest possible price.
What is a Local Real Estate Agent in 2021?
In recent years, the meaning of the term “local” has shifted. It used to imply that the real estate agency had to be physically located in the neighborhood as a bricks and mortar office. Residents would walk by and peer into the window to see what was available. However, this is no longer the case. By “local,” we mean an agent with extensive knowledge of the area, a strong sales record, and, even better, experience with selling properties similar to yours.
The Advantages of Using a Local Waterloo Region Real Estate Agent
Inside Knowledge of Local Neighbourhoods
A local agent is intimately familiar with the real estate market in your area, and they understand how to sell not only your home but also the community’s advantages. They are more likely to be able to upsell your property because they will know how to compare it in the marketplace due to their knowledge of previous sales and local market trends. They exude confidence in front of potential buyers, which leads to buyers having faith in the agent’s sales pitch.
A Better Understanding of Local Property Values
If an agent has recently sold a property next door, down the road, or across the street, they will have a good idea of how much yours might sell for. Markets change, and they can change dramatically over the course of a four-week home sale campaign, but having this experience gives the agent invaluable insight into the local market, what buyers want, and how much demand there is for properties like yours.
Knowing how much you could sell your home for gives you confidence as you begin the sales campaign to sell your Waterloo Region home.
Fast Access to Interested Local Buyers
Even before your property goes on the market, an agent who is active in your area and is familiar with selling your type of property will undoubtedly have a database of potential buyers they can tap into.
Local Proof
You should request testimonials from previous local clients as part of the real estate agent interview process. Testimonials can give you peace of mind and assurance that you’re working with the right agent. You never know; you might even know the person who wrote it!
Access to Local Contractors
Local real estate agents have knowledge of just who the best local contractors, handypersons, home stagers and more are. So if your property is in need of some quick repairs, or really needs to be staged before it goes on the market, they can ensure that you are referred to the people who can get to your place quickly and finish the job efficiently.
With all this in mind, here are some questions we strongly suggest asking any real estate agent you are considering partnering with to sell your Waterloo Region home.
What local properties have you sold recently?
This will allow you to not only to get a clearer picture of their see success rate, but also the kinds of homes they’re selling within the neighbourhood. For example, if you’re selling your two-bedroom house, you may not want to work with an agent that has only been been selling condo units.
Do you have any testimonials from previous ‘local’ clients, and how long have you been selling real estate in the area?
A good real estate agent will happily provide you with a list of previous clients that you can speak with. If not, then you know that something might be amiss. A great local real estate agent will already have lots of these posted online, in places like Google Reviews, that you can read through at your leisure. You can check out the many five star reviews Team Pinto has earned here.
How much do you think my home is worth?
This is probably the question you’re most interested in! Be wary of agents that give you an unrealistic price – if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Ask what their opinion of market value is based on, as well as some examples of similar homes that have sold.
What makes you different?
You leave it to the agents to close the deal and sell themselves with this question. They’ll be able to explain why, as an agent and as an agency, they’re better than the competition.