Finding a Listing Agent

A quick internet search will likely show you a dozen or more listing agents and real estate firms in your area eager to sell your home. However, choosing the first listing agent or company you come across may not result in the best home selling outcome. Researching real estate firms and finding one with a proven record of success in listing and selling homes could lead to thousands more in sale value.

Reputation Matters

A real estate firm that has been recognized by reputable sources locally and nationally for innovation and growth is likely doing something right. 72SOLD was recently ranked as the #1 Real Estate Firm in the Western U.S. and #2 Nationwide.

Check Online Reviews

Most trustworthy real estate professionals in an area will have worked long enough in the industry to have garnered some online reviews. Although some people have become understandably leery about online reviews, they can provide value when taken in aggregate. When reading reviews for real estate agents, be sure to look for not just results but also observations about communication style and process.

Do reviewers complain about a lack of communication or speed? Did they feel as if their agent was pushy or aggressive? Trends can be important in reviews. If many past clients complain about or compliment a real estate professional’s attitude or communication style, chances are those reviewers are correct.

Are They Active and Credentialed?

When you first speak with a real estate firm or agent, be sure to ask for their licensing credentials. They should be currently licensed to sell homes in your area. Also ask if they are actively selling homes or if they only represent sellers infrequently. There are many people who are new to real estate or only sell homes part time.

You may want to confirm they are active in your area and have the up-to-date knowledge and technical experience to list and market your home, and negotiate effectively on your behalf.

Are They Knowledgeable About the Local Market?

Discuss the local real estate market in your area with the prospective agents you contact. Some aspects of a listing agent’s job, like recommending asking prices and attracting qualified buyers, will depend in large part on their knowledge of your area.

What Is Their Marketing Plan?

Experienced listing agents should have proven strategies for marketing homes and generating interest with local home shoppers. Be sure to ask your agent about their marketing tools, their preferred methods for reaching interested buyers and the steps they take when scheduling open houses or showing the homes they list.

How an agent goes about showings or open houses can help you learn more about the way they approach the entire process.

How Are Their Communication Skills?

Communication is a cornerstone of the home selling process. A listing agent must be able to communicate effectively with the home seller, buyer’s agents, home shoppers and other parties involved in residential real estate transactions, such as mortgage companies, title companies and lawyers.

How a listing agent approaches communications shouldn’t always be uniform. For example, the way they communicate with you as the home seller should be different from the tone and approach they take with a potential buyer who wants to aggressively negotiate on sale price. 

Can They Negotiate?

Negotiation can be key in the home selling process. No buyer wants to pay more than they have to for a home they want to purchase, but it’s not in a seller’s best interest to acquiesce when it’s not necessary to do so. When looking at reviews or speaking with references, try to determine how well the real estate professional handles negotiations and whether they have a record of coming out ahead or behind.

How Will You Determine the Listing Price?

This starting price is the foundation on which the entire selling process occurs. It should be treated as a floor, not a ceiling. There’s no one easy calculation to determine the value of a property. Location, distance to amenities, crime statistics, renovations, home additions and even the age of various home features like the HVAC system or roof can factor into the appropriate starting price.

Be sure to ask your listing agent what goes into their price calculation and how they arrived at their recommendation for your home. 72SOLD makes it easy to get a price estimate. Just fill out the simple form on our website to find out our price recommendation for your home.

Speak With the Reputable Real Estate Professionals at 72SOLD



Homeowners who work with a 72SOLD agents enjoy a median sale price 7.8 percent higher than other homes sold in their local MLS. Find out why our home selling system delivers consistently stronger results for homeowners by filling out the form on our website or calling us at (844) 990-7272.