5 Critical Traits of a Great Listing Agent

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Are all real estate agents the same? Not hardly. While the licensing requirements may be the same between any two agents in the same state, their skills, experience, and understanding of the market will probably be different, in many cases noticeably so. If you are considering selling your home, you will want an agent who knows what it takes to get your home sold with as little hassle, for as much money, in as little time as possible. Read on to learn about the traits of a great real estate agent so you can choose one wisely.

Selling a house is more involved than one might initially assume. Much of the work that a REALTOR® performs to sell your property is carried out behind the scenes and includes:

  • Research & Advice on property value, comparable properties, and market conditions.
  • Marketing your property on multiple real estate websites including the local MLS, personal & company websites, and national websites such as REALTOR.com, Zillow.com, and Redfin.com. There is also marketing on social media sites such as Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and LinkedIn.
  • Some smaller but equally important tasks, including ensuring that a yard sign and lockbox are in place and that property descriptions on all websites are accurate. A great listing agent will also let all your neighbors know so that any friends or relatives of theirs looking to move into the neighborhood might be made aware of your property.
  • Coordinating showings, scheduling open houses, and soliciting feedback from other agents.
  • Providing feedback to you so that adjustments might be made.
  • Answering questions from other agents and buyers.
  • Negotiating favorable terms on your behalf when an offer is presented.
  • Navigating past possible obstacles such as short appraisals, unfavorable inspections, or delays in closing.

Experienced, knowledgeable listing agents are invaluable throughout the process. Most importantly, a listing agent dutifully represents the seller in a real estate transaction and advocates on the seller’s behalf to sell the home at the best possible price and under the most favorable terms. A great listing agent substantially lightens the seller’s load, providing the necessary information and resources that enable sellers to make informed decisions. Here are the traits you should look for in a great listing agent:

CONSULTANT
A great listing agent prepares you by thoroughly explaining each aspect of the process, alerts you to upcoming steps, and suggests adjustments, home staging strategies, and possible low-cost improvements to make your property more appealing to potential buyers. Proper expectations are set, especially in what buyers currently pay for similar properties in the area. A well-researched, written Comparable Market Analysis (CMA) will be presented on or shortly after your first meeting to provide you with information necessary to decide on a listing price.

MARKETING SPECIALIST
A great listing agent knows the market, the area’s demand, and the most likely buyers to create a strategy to capture those buyers through multiple media sources such as the local MLS, national and local real estate websites, social media, postcards, direct contact, and other methods. Make sure that the strategy is explained for the type of buyer that is most likely going to purchase your home. You should also evaluate the professionalism and thoroughness of the agent’s current listings – specifically the quality of photographs, property descriptions, and complete lists of features.

ADVOCATE
A great listing agent represents the interests and best outcomes for the seller in all situations by listening to needs and always doing the right thing for the seller. For showings, that may mean requiring that only pre-approved buyers may view the home. For appraisals, that may mean being present to point out special features and extra touches to the appraiser that add value to the property. For inspections, that may mean reasonable pushback on unnecessary requests. In all cases, the listing agent should be advocating for you rather than for the sake of an expedient closing.

COMMUNICATOR
The number one complaint of unhappy clients is a lack of communication. A great listing agent should tell you in advance the expected frequency of communication during each stage of the selling process. You should also be provided weekly updates and feedback from all showings as well as the number of website views prior to an accepted offer so that adjustments can be made if necessary.

RESOURCEFUL NETWORKER
Other professionals may be required throughout the listing, sale, and closing of your property. Great listing agents have networks of reliable professionals, including professional photographers, drone operators, mortgage lenders, real estate attorneys, inspectors, home stagers, and home improvement specialists, with whom they have worked over the years.

As your listing agent, I am committed to fulfilling all the above responsibilities with professionalism, integrity, and your best interests in mind at the core of every decision. I pledge to be your advocate, leveraging my skills and expertise to ensure that your home is presented in the best light and that we navigate the selling process smoothly. I aim to secure your property’s best price and most favorable terms. I am here to serve you and make selling your home efficient, transparent, and successful!