Courtney Atkinson Discusses the 10 Deadly Questions You Should Absolutely, Positively Get Answered Before You Sell Your Home in the Lethbridge Real Estate Market!

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April 2, 2009, by Courtney Atkinson in Tips for Home Buyers

Not all real estate companies in Lethbridge are alike. If you decide to seek the help of an agent when selling or buying your home, you need some good information before
you make any moves.

Choosing the correct agent in Lethbridge is critical issues that can cost or save you thousands of dollars.

Listed below are some important questions that you should ask in order to make sure you get a quality representative who is suited to your unique needs. Many
Lethbridge real estate agents would prefer that you don’t ask these questions, because the knowledge you will gain from their honest answers will give you a very good idea of what
outcome you can expect from using this agent. Real Estate, as in life - not all things are created equal.

Employing a Lethbridge Realtor resembles every other hiring procedure - with you positioned in the employer's chair. Buying Lethbridge real estate is a huge financial investment and you want to make sure that you have the right people on your side. This is a list of questions you should be asking your agents:

First in a series. Do you facilitate the provision of information regarding your house for homebuyers?

It may be news to you that the pair of marketing tools used by agents to sell houses (open houses and big company ads) don't really work well. The Canadian Real Estate Association has reported the following statistics: 3% of the people who call on an advertisement purchase that home and less than 1% of the homes available at an open house secure a buyer as a result. How do most Lethbridge homes sell? The Multiple Listing Service (Realtor.ca) is the answer. It is as simple as that. A home listed on the MLS by a specific agent may be shown by ANY agent from EVERY real estate firm, and that agent is given full access to show the home for sale.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the people who contact you to ask about your home are most likely just as busy as you are. No one wants to deal with having to play a game of phone tag with an agent or an unsolicited sales pitch. Make sure the ad your agent places for your home is attached to a 24 hour pre-recorded hotline with a specific ID # for your home which gives buyers access to detailed information about your property day or night 7 days a week. Calls for information on your home under this system produce 3 times as many potential buyers. And remember, the more buyers you have competing for your home the better, because it sets up an auction-like atmosphere that puts you in the driver’s seat.

Two. Why you are worth the commission that you collect.

Don’t ever agree to any commission unless you are shown exactly how this agent earns it. FACT - Realtor Commissions are not established by legal policy!

Three. How many assistants do you have?

Most agents work all by themselves without any support making it difficult for them to provide you with a consistently superior level of service. There are several different segments in real estate jobs. In the same way that you wouldn't anticipate physicians or attorneys doing the work of receptionists. Lethbridge real estate agents should delegate responsibilities which are not complicated but require a lot of time commitment. In the event that the Lethbridge Realtor lacks assistants to handle every facet of the sale, you need to wonder what amount of time they actually possess to get your Lethbridge home sold. Being an assistant is not the same as being the company's receptionist. The firm's secretary performs tasks for the entire Realtor staff, however an unlicensed assistant solely answers to a single Realtor and is an unlicensed real estate professional.

Four - What is your unique selling proposition?

The agent should be able to explain, step-by-step, how they attract buyers and show you evidence. If they can’t, hire another Lethbridge real estate agent! Do not hire any agent that tells you their reputation will somehow attract buyers! Make them prove it!

Five. How many home sales have been closed on where I live?

Your agent should be expected to provide a list of other similar sales that have taken place in the same Lethbridge real estate market.

Six. What is the precise Marketing Promotion that you'll conduct to get our Lethbridge home sold?

Be wary of someone who plans to use an extravagant company advertisement, open houses or a small website to sell your house. Insist that they are explicit and get documentation for the promotions they pledge!

Seven. When your listing sells, on average how close is the sale price to the asking price?

You can guess how much you will get for your home based on this performance.

Eight. Calculate the number of buyers that you have contact with. Do you have a list? How do you track your buyers?

Of course, you will have a better chance of selling your home if your Lethbridge agent is working with more buyers. It will also impact price because a Lethbridge real estate agent with many buyers can set up an auction-like atmosphere where many buyers bid on your home at the same time. Describe the system they use for working with these buyers. The list of buyers should be with them at all times. The more buyers they have, the more some sort of computerized system or database will be needed to keep them all straight. Make sure your Lethbridge real estate agent is willing to show you a list of their buyers. Note - There is a BIG difference between a list of actual buyers and a print-out of a database. The financial qualifications of the buyer and the property type they're interested in should be included in an actual buyer's list. You won't find any other kind of list nearly as effective as this one.

Nine. What about you is unique and why should I list my home with you?

It’s a much tougher real estate market then it was 5 years ago. What unique plans and programs does this Lethbridge real estate agent have in place to make sure that your Lethbridege home stands out favorably among other competing homes? What does this agent offer to you to sell your home that others don't, with no hassle and for the most amount of money? What technological methods are put into use to assist in the sale of my Lethbridge home? Can you give me a demonstration of that technology? The 24 hour hotlines are the most effective tools in real estate today. They have interactive websites, talking house radio transmitters and fax-on-demand etc. Be sure they show you how it works in your own house.

Ten. Can I remove my listing any time I desire?

Don't sign a contract unless the agent guarantees in writing that your listing can and will be canceled at your request if you decide not to sell your home, or if you feel that the efforts and marketing techniques of the company are not good enough.

Bonus Question : Ask them how their services compare to other companies and be specific. Inquire as to particular firms.

If they say ANYTHING negative about another Lethbridge real estate company or try to make another company look bad, hire another agent! Get the facts for yourself! In addition, when they boast about their housing sales numbers and how great they are or that they hold the top spot, RUN don't walk away! It seems EVERY Lethbridge real estate company is claiming to be number one.

Plenty of complimentary information is offered in terms of purchase, sale or investment in Lethbridge real estate. For complete information about Lethbridge property values and more please visit the most complete website online dedicated to everything about the Lethhbridge real estate market including current homes for sale. Lethbridge real estate assessments and sales. I would be happy to answer your questions about mortgages. I hope you will feel free to call me with any questions you may have. You can reach me on my cellular phone at 1.403.795.7777 or reach me online at info@courtneyatkinson.ca.

For complete details on everything related to Lethbridge Real Estate, visit our website at http://www.courtneyatkinson.ca

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