With over 93,795 real estate agents in California, how will you select the right one?
TABLE OF CONTENTS 1
Introduction - What I Can Do For You
4
How to Get What You Want
5
The Role of a Realtor
6
12 Things Realtors Do to Sell Your Home
7
My Investment for You
8
Your Roadmap
10
Why Choose Me?
12
Success Stories
13
About Me – Designations - Stats
15
See What People are Saying
16
Meet My Team
18
What to Expect at Your Listing Appointment
19
Agent Scorecard
21
Communication Guarantee
22
Questions to Ask
24
Easy Exit Listing
What I Can
Do For You Thank you for taking the time to review this package. I have compiled these materials for you so that you will know a little more about me, my team, our services and how they will benefit you. At this point, I don’t know all of your particular needs and objectives, nor do I know your financial and family situation entirely. I do know that selling a home can be an extremely emotionally trying time, or a very exciting one.
My job is to provide you with enough solid information so you can make an honest, informed decision based upon facts - not hype. Selling your home is a complicated task, so it is crucial to have every possible advantage you can. Thank you again for your time. Sincerely, Leanne Smith
IT’S NOT ABOUT ME,
IT’S ABOUT YOU
“You can have everything you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want.”
209.743.8433 youragentleanne@gmail.com www.leannesmith.com
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“
I have had a real estate license for 30 years.
They won’t fool around and list your property
Were I to put my personal residence on the
for too much, and they won’t under-price it
market today I would use an active Realtor
and make you mad. They get stuff done.
that knows his or her stuff in the marketplace and gladly pay them commission...
When you interview them, ask how many houses they sold last year. If they sold four, get
If you list with a high quality Realtor, you get
them out of your house. If they sold 44 houses,
the advantage of being exposed to their entire
that’s a different story.
pool of buyers. Who has a better chance of getting the best price? Market exposure is
Ask them what you need to do
everything. Add to that the fact that you’ll
to get this house sold. If they
probably do three of these transactions in your
can’t give you good pointers
life, and a good Realtor did three last week. You have to get a good Realtor, though. Research has shown that, between mistakes, lack of negotiating skills, pricing errors and general
and tell you what you need to fix in a diplomatic way, you don’t need them.
exposure on the market, you’ll cost yourself
About 80% of the sales are made by 20% of the people. You don’t want one of the other 80% to do the work here; you want a top agent. This is your largest asset, and we’re in tough times, so only the top agents can sell.
Don’t hire your aunt Sally or some guy you sit next to in church. Interview them and rake them over the coals. If they don’t show up on time for the appointment with you, they will do the same when showing the house. Get someone who will return your phone calls. — DAVE RAMSEY Best selling author
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SMITH HOME TE AM | WHY CHOOSE US
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more than the Realtor commission.
With over 93,795 real estate agents in California, how will you select the right one? It can be easy to think of the cost of a real estate agent only in terms of commission. Should you get the best, or pay the least? However, the cost of a bad hire can far outweigh any actual difference in compensation. If you save 1% on commission, but sell for a lower price, did you really save anything? A bad hire may cause you to miss opportunities, lose months, and leave dollars on the table. A bad hire could mean that a transaction falls apart at the last minute, leaving you or your family in limbo, having to start over. Compare that with making a great hire. When you think of the advice that you will rely on to prepare, price, negotiate and close a sale, why not pick the most qualified agent? Expertise may cost slightly more in fees, but the return on your investment is obvious. There are reasons why some agents succeed where others fail. The average agent sells one home every other month and may lack the resources required to market your home, and may lack the experience required to negotiate terms, financing, appraisals, inspections and repair issues. There is too much involved here to trust inexperienced or disorganized agents. This is not the time for on-the- job training at your expense. Experience is not expensive, it’s priceless.
Leanne has SOLD 100’s of homes over the past 27 years
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How to Get What You Want The highest price. The perfect timing. Peace-of-mind. A pleasant experience. Results. Confidence. To get what you want, hire the right people. This is not about doing a friend a favor. It’s about doing the right thing for your family and your future. Real estate transactions are complicated. Finding a new home, organizing the move and relocating your family can be stressful enough already. You should not have to worry about all the details involved in the selling process.
Your time is valuable. Your days are packed. You want a Realtor who listens and understands what is important to you. You want an agent who anticipates your needs and has a genuine interest in improving your circumstances. Relying on the personality and promises of an over-worked, solo agent can be risky. Relying on an acquaintance or a part-time agent may not be a wise move. You want the security of knowing that someone you trust is watching out for you. As in any profession, there is a profound gap between the bad, the average and the great. Beware of falling into the trap of believing that all agents are the same. Agents can promise anything. The most important question, as Seth Godin points out on his eponymous blog, is: “Do you trust them enough to believe their promises? Without that, you have nothing.” Trust cannot be promised, it must be earned. When contemplating which Realtor to hire, look for someone with a strong track record.
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SMITH HOME TE AM | WHY CHOOSE US
The Role of a Realtor CONSULTANT •
Understand your goals and concerns
•
Provide guidance on pricing, staging & offers
•
Use experience to identify possible issues
NEGOTIATOR •
Act as a buffer in negotiations
•
Recognize risks & motivations
•
Use strategies to reach your goals
SALES PERSON •
Have selling skills and a follow-up system
•
Respond effectively to objections
•
Cultivate buyer leads for your home
MARKETER •
Have a plan and a budget
•
Identify & target buyer profiles
•
Implement a marketing campaign
MONITOR •
Help with all the paperwork
•
Coordinate with all of the people
•
Oversee the details and the process
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12 THINGS REALTORS DO TO SELL YOUR HOME
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Statistics show agent-assisted home sale can net you an 11% larger profit
They know, understand and interpret local market data
Help you determine the appropriate listing price
Market your home online to give it max exposure
Professional photography and video marketing
Real Estate Agents know where to find buyers
Realtors collaborate with other Realtors
Reverse Prospect your home to Realtors
Know how to negotiate professionally
Realtors can see problems before they occur
Give you tips to increase your home’s ROI
Target the right audience for your home
SMITH HOME TE AM | WHY CHOOSE US
How I Invest to Exceed
Your Home Selling Expectations When you invest in me, you invest in an extension of my services
Staging Consult Professional Photos & Video Paid Ads on You Tube & Facebook & Instagram Just Listed Postcards to Your Neighborhood Eye-Grabbing Sign
Over $1,000 of my money to market your listing Marketing Company Google PPC Ads Phone Prospecting Website
Over $5,000 per month to generate buyers for your home
This is a real business. I run it as such.
I invest in getting my clients the best end result.
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YOUR ROADMAP
TO WORKING WITH ME
06 07 01
05
08
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01
02
04
MEET WITH LEANNE
ESTABLISH A PRICE
STAGING CONSULT
PREPARE YOUR HOME
There’s no commitment on your part for the initial meeting. It will be informative and help you identify your next steps
We will review the market analysis in detail and determine the correct price for your home
My stager will come to your home and spend a couple hours consulting with you (free of charge) She will provide you with a checklist of ways to maximize your home’s value
This is the stage where you will be completing the items on your checklist, provided by my stager. I will also make recommendations as well!
09 OFFER DEADLINE
10 REVIEWING & CHOOSING AN OFFER
We will set a deadline for all offers to be in and publish on MLS We will review all offers in great as well as notifying all agents detail and choose the one that best with future showings suits your situation. The highest offer isn’t always the best one!
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SMITH HOME TE AM | WHY CHOOSE US
11
12
UNDER CONTRACT
INSPECTIONS
We have accepted an offer!
The buyer will typically perform a physical inspection of the home
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14 10 15
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09
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05
06
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOS & VIDEO
PRE-MARKETING/ COMING SOON
My photographer will be at your home for typically up to two hours, depending on the size of your home
We strategically pre-market your home to create a buzz and build the anticipation of it hitting the market
13 APPRAISAL I have strategies to help ensure that appraised value matches or exceeds our agreed upon price
14 BUYERS FINAL MORTGAGE COMMITMENT Once we have “Clear to Close,” we can schedule our closing day & time
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08
LIVE TO MARKET
OPEN HOUSE & SHOWINGS
We are now live on MLS!
Typically Saturday & Sunday Open Houses, three hours per day
15 FINAL DETAILS We’ll review your final numbers, call the utility companies
16 FINAL WALKTHROUGH
17 CLOSING DAY!
Leave your home in “broom swept” condition for the new buyer
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WHY CHOOSE ME?
LIVE PHONE PROSPECTING Personally informing area agents about your home coming to market.
COMPLEMENTARY STAGING CONSULTATION
AMAZING 60 SECOND PROMO VIDEO
Giving you the chance to showcase your home in the best possible way.
Taking it to the next level, getting you the most traffic on your listing.
PRINT ADVERTISING
BROKER OPEN HOUSES WITH INCENTIVIZING RAFFLE (if applicable)
PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY INCLUDING AERIAL & VIRTUAL TOUR The absolute best way to ensure buyers are looking at your home.
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Announcing your home to the local area with beautiful postcards.
When it makes sense to kick it up a notch, this is a fantastic opportunity.
YOUTUBE ADS
PAID SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING
Most agents aren’t even aware you can run ads on YouTube, which has become the next generation’s TV.
Broadcasting your home to the most interested buyers
AGENT NETWORKING & EMAIL CAMPAIGN
DIRECT MAIL CAMPAIGN
CONSUMER OPEN HOUSES
Making sure agents with interested buyers are kept up to date on your home, leveraging offers and interest to generate multiple offers.
Getting the word out in every way possible.
Remember when you fell in love with your house? Recreating that for buyers is my goal.
SMITH HOME TE AM | WHY CHOOSE US
BUYER LEAD GENERATION (PPC CAMPAIGNS - $2,000/MONTH) Building a large buyer network so there is no shortage of interest in your home.
FOR THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE PRICE It is hard to prove that my listings sell for more than they might sell elsewhere on the market. The closest I’ve come to that sort of measurement is in that I’ve been responsible for more than 5 sales that were marketed for over a year by another firm, and the we placed back on the market for a HIGHER PRICE or the same price.
IN THE SHORTEST AMOUNT OF TIME The ability to advise on market timing is my competitive advantage. My marketing program is consistent and predictable giving me a number of reliable metrics that can help me identify how long it will take each listing to sell. All of the homes I sold in 2020 sold in an average of 9 days, as compared to the market average of 14 days.
WITH THE LEAST HASSLE I want your biggest concern during the home sale process to be that you were expecting process to be harder. I strive to provide first class customer service, and a “I am glad to be of service” approach to the sale. I’ve refined my process so precisely - nothing falls through the cracks.
VISUALLY STAND OUT AMONGST THE COMPETITION Professional photography is essential to a successful home sale. I include professional real estate photography with every listing, as part of our full service listing fee. My photographers are the best in the business.
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PEOPLE JUST LIKE YOU
SUCCESS STORIES
BARRY & TERRI RASMUSSEN
THE DUMANS
THE ROSEBROOKS
This home had a stunning view and was in great condition. It sat on the market for 183 days with their first agent. This timeline was less than ideal and left them feeling defeated. They were moving to Oregon but couldn’t go until their home sold, that’s when they came to me, and we sold their home!
After 4 months on the market, The Dumans switched to their second and final Realtor - me and my Team. We sold their home and got them moved into their new home in Northern California in a total of fifty-nine short days.
This amazing couple committed years of their time volunteering and working for our local fire department. They wanted to retire to Idaho and began the process by hiring a local realtor, then another after a grueling 12 months and no luck, they gave me a call! I was able to get their home sold and them off on their new adventure!
GRINDING ROCK NEW CONSTRUCTION
DORIAN FAUGHTS HOME
THE HALLS
This unforgettable ranch with views overlooking Melones Lake, you would have thought it would sell in a flash! But it didn’t, he had it on the market with another agent for five months. The first thing we did is stage this large home, then we had professional photos done inside and out. Next we used our intense marketing strength and made sure the listing went out everywhere and we got it SOLD for Dorian.
Local custom builders dream home went on the market with another agent for over five months, no offers and hardly any showings. My team and I came in to stylize the house for photographs etc. and we closed this house from list to close date in 87 Days!
This amazing home is located right on the Golf Course of Greenhorn Creek. It was a new construction project that the investors had been trying to sell for a few years. They tried multiple agents before reaching out to me. Not only did we get this home sold, we sold all of the furniture staging for the sellers too!
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SMITH HOME TE AM | WHY CHOOSE US
ABOUT LEANNE I have rapidly become one of the top producing agents in the Gold Country and surrounding counties, but it didn’t happen overnight. With relentless enthusiasm and twenty seven years of experience in sales, coaching, public speaking, consulting and marketing, I now have the resources and knowledge to help every client exceed their goals. How do I do this? By utilizing a variety of innovative marketing methods, superior client relationships, and negotiating finesse to achieve my client’s objectives. I also have a knack for selling residential properties efficiently and finding dream homes. I am positioned to serve my clients all over California
with offices optimally located in several Cities in Northern California, the Central Valley, Gold Country and Mountain Communities. I have trained in several specialty areas to ensure that I can effectively assist clients with buying and selling their homes. I have achieved several designations as an agent in the past 27 years of being a top producing Real estate agent and Team. Certified Distressed Property Expert candidate (CDPE®), Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource (SFR®), CBA - Commercial Brokers association. I also have an extensive bank ground in probate/Estate inherited properties.
My success in satisfying clients has been recognized by receiving a number of prestigious awards. The Hall of Fame, this designation is the premier status allocated only
I HAVE SOLD
100’S OF HOMES
IN THE LAST 27 YEARS
to agents that achieved several million dollars in production. In addition, I’ve trained thousands of Realtors across the nation through knowledge sharing, educating, and speaking at events. Some of these agents are now part of my Team, the Smith Home Team.
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I didn’t become a real estate leader by accident - I worked hard, focused on my clients and strived to take advantage of every potential growth opportunity. Clients admire me as a trusted authority for the unmatched value and mastery I bring to each case. I’m passionate about sharing my teachings with homeowners and professionals, as demonstrated through the two books I’ve written: Guide to Selling Your Inherited House, and My Proven System for Selling. My written works solidify my expertise and credibility and differentiate me from other real estate agents. While other agents can say they are solidify my expertise and credibility and differentiate me from other real estate agents. While other agents can say they are an expert, I wrote the book on these topics. For these and other unique real estate situations, my clients can come to me with the confidence of knowing I will get the job done and done well.
selling process. Becoming an award-winning real estate expert servicing hundreds of satisfied clients didn’t happen without hard work and dedication – these are some of the initiatives I’ve implemented along the way: •
Active marketing approach, pursuing potential leads and earnestly seeking buyers for my listings.
•
I frequently enhance my knowledge and skills through a variety of top-tier training programs from the nation’s best coaches
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I utilize top real estate websites, Search Engine Optimization experts and modern search engine technology to ensure that homes are seen by potential buyers
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Dedicated to my community
I help my clients navigate tough emotional decisions that come along with supporting clients through the buying and
I Wrote the Book on This Stuff! In my book, Selling Homes Fast for Top Dollar, I break down
In my book, Tip and Tricks for Selling your Inherited Home,
what you as a seller can do to get the biggest return possible on
I’ll discuss everything you need to know about the process of
your homes sale. I reveal strategies, secrets, tips, and much more
selling an inherited home. I have sold 100’s of estate properties
to help you sell your home. Every day, homes sell for WAY less
for executors, attorneys and even the administrator for the
than they should. It makes me cringe to see how many mistakes
state of California. Selling an inherited property comes with its
people make. Don’t get me wrong — it’s great for buyers. But if
own twist and turns which I help you through in this book.
you’re a seller, every mistake can cost thousands of dollars.
that has no expertise in this speciality field. With the potential
right way. Think about it for a minute... if you’re selling a $10
of loosing 1,000’s of dollars! This book will definitely be worth
million home, a 1% increase in the sales price equals an extra
your time and your money.
$100,000!
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Too many times, Trustees and Executors hire the wrong agent
For decades, wealthy homeowners have been selling homes the
SMITH HOME TE AM | WHY CHOOSE US
SEE WHAT
PEOPLE ARE SAYING We cannot recommend Leanne highly enough; she knows the market, she works really hard to present the property in the best light and market it thoroughly. What really impressed us was that leanne took the time to understand what was important to us and did not just gloss over that or ignore our feedback - she was clearly the expert but listened to us and then advised which was great.
Leanne is a great combination of knowledge and personal service. She’s a problem solver and helped to make our transaction as smooth as possible. I would highly recommend her.
Leanne was with me through the entire process of selling my home. Starting with cleaning out my closets and staging my home before being listed on the MLS. Then she had professional pictures taken of the property. Inside and out. WOW! I was proud to own this house and it showed. I’ve never had realtor care so much. Any and all of my concern was her concern. Open houses and estate sale too... I have recommended Leanne Smith to my friends and family, knowing her knowledge in real estate and caring for her clients is top priority. Thank you so much!
She is proactive with endless drive, and just doesn’t give up until the job is done to perfection. She is a consummate professional in everything she does and I am very lucky to have had her as my agent. We need to clone her!
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LET MY TEAM
DO THE WORK
I employ a full-time Marketing Director, Home Stager and Real Estate Photographer to ensure your home is showcased in the best possible way to potential buyers.
MEET MY TEAM! Allow me to introduce to you the Smith Home Team. We are a group of Real Estate agents that go above and beyond the needs of our clients. We are a top producing team trained to be the best in the business.
We look forward to helping you and your family make sure that your real estate dreams come true!
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SMITH HOME TE AM | WHY CHOOSE US
LEAVING A LEGACY
OF LOVE
Our entire team believes in leaving a legacy of love in the communities that we service. From lending a hand at the local food bank, to paying pet adoption fees at the local humane society, we pledge our time and our money to make a difference in our communities! When you hire one of our team members you can be guaranteed that you are hiring an agent that cares about and gives back to our communities.
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WHAT TO EXPECT AT YOUR
LISTING APPOINTMENT
Our goal is to understand your objectives and requirements. I plan to review pricing, marketing and expenses. Below is a proposed meeting agenda. The following page contains a checklist that you can use to prepare for the meeting.
1
REVIEW PROPERTY
Walk through with a buyer’s eyes 2
3
4
ASK QUESTIONS
Understand your expectations
MARKETING PLANS
Maximize exposure
PRICING & COST
Determine price estimate & net 5
MAXIMUM HOME VALUE ASSESSMENT
Show you small inexpensive improvements and repairs 6
PROFESSIONAL EQUITY ASSESSMENT
How much equity is in your home 7
EXPLAIN FORMS
Review disclosures & agreement 8
MUTUAL DECISION
Agree on the next step
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SMITH HOME TE AM | WHY CHOOSE US
AGENT
SCORECARD
I want you to be an informed consumer and I believe that when you compare my services to those of my competitors, I stand out from the crowd. Please use the checklist below to decide which agent can best hand your real estate transaction.
US
AGENT 1
AGENT 2
Are you a full-time, licensed REALTOR? YES ______ ______ Are you in the top 10 locally in your company? YES ______ ______ Do you have a team and systems in place for successful results?
YES
______
______
Do you have a contractor liaison (project manager) to assist in home prep?
YES
______
______
Do you offer creative descriptions of your listings? YES ______ ______ Do you have an exclusive company website? Personal Website?
YES
______
______
Do you provide single property websites with custom domains for each listing?
YES
______
______
Do you sell lifestyle (community) in addition to the home?
YES
______
______
Do you market to buyer brokers working with buyers for my home?
YES
______
______
Do you have a written marketing strategy and checklists to follow?
YES
______
______
Do you offer a secure lockbox service with same-day follow-up?
YES
______
______
Do you have any educational designations? YES ______ ______ Do you give back to the local community? YES ______ ______ Do you target boost your listings on Facebook? YES ______ ______ Will you send “just listed” postcards to my neighbors?
YES
______
______
How many years have you been a full time agent?
27 years
______
______
Do you have a list of references to call? YES ______ ______ How many homes have you sold total? 600+ ______ ______ What is your average days on market 9 ______ ______ What is your list to sale price ratio? 100.17% ______ ______ Can I cancel the listing at any time? YES ______ ______ Can I choose the length of the listing agreement?
YES
______
______
Do you have a full-time marketing director? YES ______ ______ Do you have full-time Buyer’s Agents? YES ______ ______ Are you open seven days a week? YES ______ ______ Do you utilize an online transaction management system?
YES
______
______
Do you offer the option to use electronic signatures?
YES
______
______
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W H E N YO U H I R E M E , E X P EC T. . .
MORE. BETTER. FASTER.
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SMITH HOME TE AM | WHY CHOOSE US
COMMUNICATION GUARANTEE I GUARANTEE THAT I WILL: Provide feedback to you within 72 hours after showings. Call you weekly to discuss feedback, showing traffic, market activity, and price adjustments regarding positioning your home on the market. Be available to receive your calls daily between 8 AM and 8 PM. Return all your phone calls and emails promptly and efficiently. Keep you informed regarding new listings that come on the market to compete with yours and any recent sales around you. Show you visually the brochures, websites, etc., that are used for marketing your home. Immediate delivery of any urgent correspondence. Update all agents and brokers in the area about your home. Make listing information accessible to buyers on leannesmith.com at all times. Make marketing materials available at every showing.
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QUESTIONS TO ASK
WHEN INTERVIEWING REALTORS
WHAT IS YOUR LISTINGS’ AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET?
HOW DO YOU PLAN TO MARKET THE HOME?
Always ask to see how long their listings sit on the market. Compare it to other agents interviewed, and if theirs is oddly high, ask for an
Every Realtor should enter this partnership with a plan—period.
explanation. If they can’t attest to why, find another agent.
WHAT IS YOUR LIST-TO-PRICE RATIO? An agent can show the prices at which they list a home, but more important is to see how that compares to the price the homes actually sell—up to date, of course. A good list-to-price ratio will depend on the market and location, but be wary of percentages too far below 90%. Also, if an agents’ ratio is skyrocketing over 100%, be careful of their strategy of underpricing homes to pad the ratio. Request specific details about their motivation for the listing price.
15 questions to ask potential real estate agents.
WHAT IS YOUR EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION?
Price range can dramatically alter decisions for marketing and selling a house. Agents should understand the market, period.
Though a new real estate agent can certainly be motivated and eager to please, a pro with years of experience will have the knowledge and skill to face unexpected challenges. Taking continuing education courses shows a commitment to keeping up with changes.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A REAL ESTATE AGENT?
IS THIS YOUR FULL-TIME JOB?
Be cautious of new agents, but it’s not a deal-breaker if they have
Having another job shouldn’t necessarily cut a potential real estate agent out of the running, but you need to be aware if this is a part-time gig before committing. Someone who also works somewhere else may be harder to reach and could miss out on opportunities to show your house.
HAVE YOU SOLD HOMES IN THIS PRICE RANGE?
stellar referrals.
ARE YOU A PART-TIME OR FULL-TIME AGENT? Be far more cautious if an agent is part-time. Selling your home needs to be a full-time job, and they should be focused.
WHAT’S THE RATIO BETWEEN BUYERS AND SELLERS YOU REPRESENT? Listing agents need to be experienced in, of course, listing. If history shows far more experience on the buying side than the selling, it’s not a deal-breaker, but be comfortable with an agents’ answers for all of the other questions. It could benefit to have a network of eager buyers at the disposal.
WILL I BE WORKING WITH YOU DIRECTLY OR A TEAM? There’s nothing more frustrating than getting incredibly comfortable with an agent and then seeing someone new at every meeting. A small team is OK—it means more resources and assistance—but get introduced to everyone. Don’t allow your home to be another nameless, faceless listing.
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Selling your home is a big deal — so while it may be tempting to go with the first word-of-mouth recommendation you get, when it comes to choosing a real estate agent, it pays to do a bit more research. Your real estate pro will be responsible for setting the sale price, marketing your home, running open houses, speaking with potential buyers and ultimately, walking you through the selling process. To make an informed choice, ask friends and neighbors for personal recommendations, but also take the time to interview several of the best candidates before making a decision. Here are
SMITH HOME TE AM | WHY CHOOSE US
ARE YOU A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS? Membership in this professional organization is what allows a real estate agent to use the title Realtor. Being a Realtor means that the person has agreed to follow the organization’s ethical guidelines and to keep up with continuing education.
WHAT’S THE PRICE RANGE OF MOST OF THE HOMES YOU HAVE SOLD? You probably already have a ballpark figure in mind for your home’s price. Does the agent typically represent homes in that price range? If most of the homes the agent sells are in a far higher — or lower — price range, he or she may not be as familiar with how to market your home.
HOW MANY HOMES DID YOU SELL LAST YEAR? This will give you an idea of the volume of work a real estate agent is used to taking on. This number alone is not enough to base a decision on, but keep in mind that a very high number may mean the agent is not able to give each client as much personal attention, whereas a very low number could be a clue that homes are languishing on the market
ON AVERAGE, HOW CLOSE TO THE ASKING PRICE IS THE FINAL SALE PRICE ON HOMES YOU HAVE SOLD? This figure will give you a good picture of whether the agent tends to price homes well. If most of the homes the agent has represented have sold for far less than the asking price, that’s a sign they were priced too high. Realistic pricing results in home sales that are close to or at the asking price.
HOW WILL YOU MARKET MY HOME? There is a lot more to marketing a house than putting up a for-sale sign on the lawn. In addition to MLS, on how many websites will your agent list your home? Where will he or she look for buyers? A good marketing plan can be what makes the difference between a speedy sale and a home that languishes on the market.
WHAT ARE THE NEGATIVES OF MY HOME? You are not looking for a rainbows and unicorns response here. An agent that is a good fit should be able to name several potential drawbacks to selling your home, from repairs to location and beyond. That said, you will be spending a good deal of time with your real estate pro, so seek out someone with a realistic but tactful approach.
DO YOU WORK ON YOUR OWN OR AS PART OF A TEAM? If the agent you are interviewing heads up a large office, it may be that he or she will not be the one doing business with you the entire time. If that’s the case, you should know up front exactly how the agent will be involved, and you should be able to meet the other agents who will be working with you.
HOW MANY CLIENTS ARE YOU CURRENTLY REPRESENTING? There is no magic number to look for here; just use your common sense. If the number is very high or very low consider that a red flag — you are looking for someone with a thriving business who still has time to devote to your home sale.
WHAT TYPE OF SUPPORT STAFF OR RESOURCES DO YOU HAVE? This could include anything from technology help for creating a beautiful website for your home to an in-house real estate attorney.
HOW WILL YOU KEEP ME INFORMED ABOUT PROGRESS? Find out how frequently you can expect your agent to check in with you, and when he or she is available for you to call with questions or for updates.
CAN I SEE YOUR REFERENCES? Ideally, ask for the names and phone numbers of three of the most recent clients. You want to know whether people are happy with the real estate agent’s work now, not five or 10 years ago. When you talk to former clients, ask how easy it was to reach the agent when they had questions, and whether they felt well supported and advised throughout the process.
To sum up: It’s common for real estate agents to prepare an informal presentation to give you in your home. This gives the agent a chance to see the property in person, and explain what he or she can do to represent your home. Consider keeping a written list of your questions in front of you during the presentation, and jot down additional questions that occur to you during it. Wait until the end and ask any questions that weren’t covered.
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EASY EXIT LISTING What could give you safe assurance more than a promise for an easy exit listing?
You can cancel your listing at any time*
What is your biggest fear when you list your home? It’s simple - You worry about being locked into a lengthy listing agreement with a less than competent real estate agent, costing your home valuable time and exposure on the market. Worry no more. I take the risk out of listing your home through the Easy Exit Listing Agreement.
You can relax, knowing that you will not be locked into a lengthy or binding contract.
If for any reason you are not 100% satisfied with my real estate services, if everything is not done exactly the way I promise it will be done, simply call me to let me know and I will cancel the listing. *Restrictions apply
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SMITH HOME TE AM | WHY CHOOSE US
FAST SALE = LESS HASSLE FACT If the ordinary agent is able to sell your home it will take 52 days.
FACT
I sell homes on average in 14 days.
LIST TO SALE PRICE RATIO FACT If the ordinary agent sells your home, on average, they will only net you 98.15% of the original list price.
FACT
I sell my clients’ homes for an average of 100.17% of the original list price.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO
WITH AN ADDITIONAL 2% OF YOUR HOME’S VALUE?
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powered by RE/MAX Gold #01182942
209.743.8433 youragentleanne@gmail.com www.leannesmith.com 26
SMITH HOME TE AM | WHY CHOOSE US
