Selling Your Eichler? Choose A Knowledgeable Listing Agent.

Once you decide to sell your Eichler home, one of the most important steps in the process comes in the beginning, and that is finding a good listing agent.  Not all Realtors are created equal and, as in any business, different realtors have different areas of expertise.  The Eichler market is a specialized niche and your best bet as an Eichler homeowner is to find an agent who knows and understands the Eichler world.  A good Eichler specialist will guide you through the process, from setting a realistic price for your home to closing the deal once you accept an offer.

In choosing someone to represent you in the sale of your home, you’ll need to do some homework and identify several prospective agents.  Referrals can come from friends, relatives, or neighbors.  Another great source is the Internet.  Although it is no guarantee, a good Eichler realtor is more likely than not to have a strong Internet presence.  Once you have lined up several real estate agents who look promising, schedule no-obligation interviews.  You’ll want to be sure that your realtor is a good fit for you and has the skills you are looking for.   The agents you interview should:

• Have an active real estate license.
• Belong to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and/or a reliable search service.
• Be enthusiastic about selling your home.
• Be tech savvy; these days, most prospective homebuyers do their preliminary shopping on the Internet.
• Have experience in buying and selling Eichler homes.
• Provide you with “comps” or a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) for similar Eichler home sales in your neighborhood.  Pricing your home right from the get-go is a huge plus in getting your house sold in a timely manner.

Don’t hesitate to interview 3 or 4 prospective realtors.  They view every listing presentation as an opportunity as well as part of the job.  Be prepared to give each prospect a tour of your property and be ready to ask a few questions.

• How will you market my home?  Will the home be advertised online, with flyers, and/or in local real estate advertising pamphlets and newspapers?  Will there be any open houses or brokers’ previews?  What kind of signage will be used?
• At what price do you recommend listing my Eichler?  A knowledgeable agent will help you set a realistic price for your home based on comparable sales.  Remember, the highest price point isn’t always the best price point.  Too high a price may well end in no showings.
• Can you recommend service providers?  Although a real estate agent shouldn’t receive any compensation from referrals, they should be able to suggest more than one vendor who can help with any repairs or work that may need to be done in getting your home ready for sale.
• Will you supply references?  Ask for references – and don’t hesitate to check them out. 
• What are your fees?  As a general rule the realtor fees are a percentage of the selling price (generally 5% - 7%) that is split between the buyer’s agent and the listing agent 

Once you have decided on the realtor who is the best fit for you and your situation, you’ll sign a listing agreement that spells out the terms of the contract.  Be sure you read it over carefully before you sign and ask for copies.

We here at Eichler For Sale are experienced Eichler realtors – as well as Eichler homeowners.  I welcome the opportunity to assist you in your sale – so please give me a call when you are ready to sell.