» Did you know that a home sale is regulated by numerous state and federal laws?
» Did you know there are at least 15 things that can go wrong during a transaction?

The purpose of this page is not to cover all details relevant to a home sale, but rather to give you a few tips about selecting a good real estate agent when selling your home in Washington, DC, Northern Virginia or Maryland.

REMEMBER: All agents are not equal. A good agent is golden. The same way a good accountant can save you on taxes, and a good attorney can protect you from a lawsuit, a good agent can steer you clear of many traps.

REMEMBER: A good agent is not only marketing and selling your home, but also covering all bases to protect you from liability.

Finding a good agent:
Surprisingly, finding a good agent is not very complicated. In the Washington, DC area there are many qualified agents that can assist you. How would you go about finding any other professional, such as a good attorney, or accountant?

Probably visit their websites, review their professional credentials, business experience, and professional achievements. Do the same with a real estate agent. Interview them! We also recommend that you check the Agent Comparison service we offer, which is free and with no obligation.

There are a few things you need to look for when interviewing agents:

» Is the agent a full time agent?
» Is the agent well educated and trained?
» Does the agent have business experience?
» Negotiation skills? Training in marketing?
» Does the agent seem responsive?
» Is the agent actively involved in professional associations, etc?
» Do you feel comfortable with the agent?

Finally, be aware of the three most common misconceptions. Do not select an agent based on:

a) The volume of properties they have sold.
b) Their claim of specialization in a specific neighborhood.
c) The price they claim they can sell your home for.

a) The number of properties an agent has sold, does not necessarily speak to the agent's quality of work. Quantity does not equal quality.

b) An agent "specializing" in a very specific neighborhood might not be the best person to market your home. After all, the buyers will most likely come from a different area, so the property has to be marketed with an open mind to a wide audience.

c) When interviewing an agent, most sellers want to know what the agent can sell their home for. Never base your decision on the number an agent will give you. In fact, if it sounds too good, you might as well walk away. Some people will tell you what you want to hear, just so they can get your business. The truth is that the agent does not determine the listing price. That is up to you to decide, and the market will decide if the price you selected was right or not.

Fees
There are numerous stories about people that tried to save a penny and ended up losing a dollar. Just remember the golden rule; you get what you pay for. This is the one transaction that you should not be stingy or greedy.

That does not mean that a good agent will be more expensive or that an average agent will be cheaper. You can find good agents that will charge a lower fee than many average agents do, so don't let the fee be the deciding factor.

If anything goes wrong, good agents can save you much more than what you pay them. Since you are a paying client, find someone who can offer you peace of mind!