Hi Stephen,

I am going to shoot straight with you here, because I do not work your market and certainly have nothing to gain.

In a Buyers market, you need a very strong marketing agent. In a market where properties are in fierce competition with one another, if you do not get a strong marketing agent who is going to spend the time and money to set your property apart from the others, you will run the risk of it getting lost in the crowd. In order for the listing agent to be able to market your home as it should be, it costs money. If you aren't paying the price for that kind of marketing, the agent cannot work for you for free, and likely won't be in a position to market it the way it should be. If I were to take listings when I have all of the out of pocket expenses and expend hours of my time on marketing and, walk away with nothing, I am a top notch agent who will soon go out of business in this market.

I don't sell the majority of my own listings, but I can guarantee that Buyers frequently put the pressure on their own Realtors to get them into my listings because they found it themselves through my marketing and called their agent. Any agent fortunate enough to snag one of the few ready, willing and able Buyers out there right now, will sell your home probably because the customer likes it and thinks it is a good deal, not necessarily through the sales expertise of their agent. The marketing done by your listing agent will increase the odds that yours is one of the ones shown. Focus on that and compensate them so they can get it out there. Insist on seeing what kind of marketing they will do. Ask for links to websites, copies of their ads and some of the MLS sheets for their listings. Make sure all of the information is there and the pictures are great and many. Lastly, ask for references or testimonials or for a referral from a friend or relative. Don't hire them just because they are "nice", but because they can produce bonafide examples of what they will do. Even a hard working newer agent could be the one who will do the best job for you if they are technologically savvy.

Good luck to in your endeavors!

Thu May 8 2008, 10:30

Stephen, I work at EWM near Fort Lauderdale, Florida. EWM is owned by Warren Buffet now and is affiliated with The Leading Real Estate Companies Of The World the largest referral system available. You might consider focusing more on who can get the job of selling your home done as opposed to what commission the charge. If i were going into heart surgery I would be focussed on the success rate of the doctor. The average listing agent gets 1.3% of the sale price after marketing expenses. In the declining market you want the best and brightest star not a bargain player. Hope you the best in your quest. EWM.com is a good site to get information from. Check out the EWM blogs too. Marty S.

Thu May 8 2008, 09:57