Finding the Right Listing Agent to Sell Your Home

Finding the right listing agent is a critical success factor when you put your home on the market.

Jack Conway agents have the experience, skills, and training to list your home and help you with every step of the homeselling process.

Jack Conway agents are also REALTORS® who have the support of a full-service real estate brokerage with deep roots in greater Boston, Cape Cod, and the South Coast.

A Jack Conway listing agent fulfills a number of important needs when you’re ready to sell your home. They help get your home ready to list, market your property to attract more buyers, show the property, screen buyer offers, and assist in negotiating offers. Your Jack Conway agent can also provide valuable advice on preparing your home for the market, including decluttering and home staging.

Within these broad categories typically are a couple of hundred individual actions, procedures, and processes. Depending on the transaction, some may not be needed while others may take minutes, hours, or days to complete.

You might want to interview a few real estate agents before you decide to work with one. Here are some key questions to ask:

What are your credentials and experience?

You’ll want to know how many years of experience a prospective listing agent has. Also ask if the agent has any special credentials or certifications. For example, many Jack Conway agents are Seller Representative Specialists (SRS). The SRS designation is the National Association of REALTORS® premier credential for seller representation.

How many sales did you close last year?

Asking about an agent’s track record helps you learn more about the prospective agent’s experience. You also might want to ask if the agent works in real estate full-time or part-time.

Are you familiar with our neighborhood and town?

Working with a local listing agent can be a huge plus for homesellers. A local agent will know what buyers are looking for in your neighborhood and town. They’ll know about other listings on the market as well as community amenities that might attract buyers. Most importantly, a local agent will have an understanding of market trends in your neighborhood and town—such as how quickly homes sell and whether they close for above, below, or at the listing price.

What is your marketing plan for my property?

Jack Conway agents develop strong marketing plans for the homes they list. Ask prospective agents what their marketing plans involve. Topics to cover include virtual tours, photography, listing description, open house schedule, property syndication, direct mail, print collateral, and email campaigns.

What should I do to prep my house for the market?

Your listing agent will evaluate your home’s condition and make any suggestions for improvements, repairs, or updates before listing. Your agent’s advice will take into account current market conditions or trends.

In general, listing agents usually advise a thorough house cleaning and decluttering. They also may advise home staging or repairs and updates intended to make a home sell faster or for a higher price.

How will we communicate?

Asking about communication will help make sure you know in advance how your agent will get in touch with you and vice versa. Let your agent know your preferred method of communication. You might prefer text messages rather than phone calls that could interrupt your workplace. Or you might want the personal touch of a phone call.