OK, you’re on the hunt for an agent. You’ve got a list of demands and you want them met. In fact, you’re ready to eliminate anyone who’s not up to scratch. It’s true that choosing an agent can be time consuming, but it doesn’t have to be stressful or difficult.
A good real estate agent with strong local knowledge and proven results is in the best position to give you a realistic appraisal of the market value for your rural property. They’ll know what’s been selling and what current buyers are looking for. But more importantly, they’ll know how to market your property so it attracts the right buyer.
A good agent will understand the most effective marketing channels to reach these buyer’s and how they’ll be tailored to your property. Given the power of digital technology, your buyer could easily be an investor from interstate or overseas.
What are 5 questions to ask a rural agent?
Don’t be afraid to ask an agent about anything and everything that comes to mind. Some good questions to get you started might be:
- What’s happening in the rural market and will this affect my property’s value?
- Can you show me examples of properties you’ve sold in my local area?
- What kind of marketing strategy will you develop for my property?
- How does your commission structure work?
- Who will I be dealing with during the process and will they be available when I need help?
Beware the big promises
Look out for agents who guarantee low commissions and a high sale price. It’s more than likely they’re after a quick buck and won’t have your best interests at heart. Unfortunately, rogue agents do still operate in the market, but better informed vendors have reduced their influence.
Make or break
There’s no doubt selling your property is a huge decision, so you want to feel completely confident about the agent you choose. All the glossy brochures in the world won’t help if your agent can’t effectively communicate your property’s strong points to interested buyers. So, don’t tick off most things on your agent wish list, tick off everything.