Are you looking to sell your home and don’t know how to begin the process?

Some of the first steps you’ll need to take include getting your house inspected, creating a marketing plan, and finding the right real estate agent.

You will need an effective real estate agent to get the right price for your house. How do you choose the best real estate agent to get the job done?

There are key steps you’ll need to take. Keep reading to learn about our top seven ways to choose a real estate agent in Calgary.

Get referrals from friends and do your research

When first looking to list Calgary homes for sale, you’ll need to get real estate agent referrals from friends and family members. And don’t forget to do some research online when looking for a real estate agent.

Your friends and family may know just the right person. For example, if a real estate agent made a great impression on your friend, you may find that they’ll be great at selling your home too.

By doing some research about your real estate agent online through a Google search, you may be able to gather more information about him or her than you would during an in-person meeting.

So be sure to get referrals and do some of your own research before choosing a real estate agent.

Look at other listings they have online

Take a look at REALTOR®’s online listings and make comparisons to the home you’re trying to sell. You can go to REALTOR.ca or look up the real estate agent’s website for this information.

The majority of home buyers start their search online so you can use this information to see if your REALTOR® would attract the right buyers.

Compare and contrast the listings to the property that you’re looking to sell. Are these homes located in similar neighbourhoods? Are the homes in the same price range? Are there enough listings to show that the agent has a strong business?

Before you even meet with your REALTOR®, take a look at their listings online.

Ask the right questions when listing Calgary homes for sale

When you do meet with real estate agents, be sure to have a list of questions you want to ask them. Have some more complex questions that can help you narrow down your choices to the perfect real estate agent for selling your home.

Find out about their skills and their experience selling homes in your community. Find out their strategy in selling houses. Ask about how they negotiate multiple offers.

These type of questions will help you pick the right real estate agent. Ask as many questions as necessary to feel like you’ve made the perfect choice.

Find out their plans and request recommendations

When interviewing real estate agents after listing your house for sale, you should ask what they plan to accomplish to meet your needs. Find out their expectations and plans for selling your home.

Often, you’ll have real estate agents with written out plans for how to market and sell your home in your particular neighbourhood. For those lacking advertising plans, you can immediately take them out of the running.

The best way to find out how great a real estate agent really is to ask for recommendations. If they have plenty of happy customers, they’ll give you a list of positive recommendations.

You can also view their website to learn more about their qualifications. Take these steps to determine if you are speaking with a truly successful and effective real estate agent.

Have an idea of their commission's structure

When talking to your real estate agent, ask about their commission structure. The majority of agents charge 6 or 7 percent on the first $100,000 and 3 percent on the entire cost.

You may also find your real estate agent has a flat percentage rate for the total cost of the house. Also, ask about whether the commission structure will be lower if the house is sold in less than 30 days.

Don’t finish the interview without finding out about the commission structure.

Pay attention to any red flags

When choosing a real estate agent, there will be a number of red flags you should watch out for so that you don’t end up with the wrong person selling your home.

For example, if the agent suggests the highest possible price for your home, you should be aware that it will take much longer to sell your home. Also, you may discover that your real estate agent only works part-time on the side instead of having this consume their working hours.

If you’re listing Calgary homes for sale, you will want a real estate agent who is always available to show your house to prospective buyers.

Another red flag may be that your agent doesn’t know the general real estate landscape in your area. You may also find that your real estate agent doesn’t generally sell your particular type of property.

If the agent doesn’t work with buyers in your price range, this may also be a red flag to avoid partnering with this REALTOR®. Some agents may also not be the type of negotiator you’re looking for.

Watch out for these red flags when choosing your real estate agent.

Continue tracking their results throughout your working relationship

Once you have chosen a real estate agent, don’t think that your work is done. You should continue reviewing them. Keep tracking their results throughout the entire time you’re selling your home.

You may find your REALTOR® put in plenty of time in the beginning but then lose interest after several months. You’ll need to keep reviewing their results in order to communicate and improve upon any problems.

Do you have any tips you’ve come across for choosing a real estate agent? Let us know in the comments below!

And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us here.