The first question that you might have is what does a listing agent do?

A listing agent, not to be confused with a selling agent (an agent that helps buyers find new properties), is an agent that markets your property in order to help get the property sold. The listing agent works for the seller they can help you price the home and help you through the home selling process. A lot of people say that buying a home is a big investment, when selling you finally get the opportunity to cash in. There is a lot that goes into the home selling process like marketing, dealing with potential buyers, working through paperwork, staging the home, etc. It can be daunting when you do not have any expertise in real estate, and you don’t what all happens in the home selling process. Therefore, having a listing agent would be advised, because they are experts in the real state industry and have the training, as well as the resources to help make the home selling process significantly easier. A listing agent may even help you get a greater return on your investment.

What are the benefits of working with a listing agent?

The selling process can be stressful especially for first-time sellers, a listing agent can help to take some of the burdens off you. The listing agent can provide you with information and resources that will help you make informed decisions. Here are a few tasks that the listing agent will typically perform throughout the course of the selling process. 

Provide their professional expertise: A listing agent has inside expertise of the selling process, which helps them walk you through each step. Listing agents can also tell you what to expect along the way.

Help determine the asking price of the home: It is important to get the set the right price for your home. The price being too high can cause the home to stay on the market longer, but if the price is too low you can miss out on a lot of money. It can be hard to price your house objectively when you are emotionally attached to the home and lack knowledge of the market. A listing agent can do a comparative market analysis to find the right price based on the square footage, age, location, and features of your property considering the local market. 

Schedule showings: Most buyers want to walk through a home to see it in person before they purchase it. When a buyer finds a home that they like they usually coordinate a showing with the listing agent. Listing agents may also host an open house, which are designate times where potential buyers can walk through the home without an appointment. The listing agent is usually present during these showings to answer any questions about the property. 

Market and sell your home: Your listing agent will list your home on the multiple listing service, which is an online home-selling database that buyer’s agents use to find homes for their clients. They may also make staging recommendations.  

Recommend other professionals: With listing agents comes a plethora of professionals like appraisals, real estate attorneys, inspectors, and even stagers. These are all people that they have worked with in the past and that they can vouch for. 

Communicate and negotiate with buyers and their agents on your behalf: Your agent will communicate with interested buyers and their agents throughout the process. Communicating with the buyer or their agent is key because delayed or missed responses can lead to a potential buyer being less interested in the home. Communicating is what the listing agent does, they stay in touch with all parties, handle the paperwork, and negotiating the final price and terms of the sale with your interest in mind.