The complexities of listing a home can be overwhelming for a real estate agent. Seller’s expectations are higher than ever, coming off the recent history of high prices and low inventories. If you follow these tips, you can deliver service worthy of your seller’s five-star review.

A specific plan.

You should put together a detailed plan for marketing the home for the best possible price. This plan has many facets, which will include many of the following: doing a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to see what the home could sell for, listing the property on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and other sites, developing sales flyers, “staging” the home to help it look its best, having professional photos taken for advertising, scheduling showings for other agents and brokers as well as scheduling an “open house.”

Our FREE Agent Checklist Bundle is a comprehensive resource of 9 checklists for buyer and seller’s agents. These proven checklists will help you systematize areas of your business, such as preparing a listing for an open house so that you can best serve your clients with an exceptional experience.

Your seller’s best interests.

As a listing agent, you are obligated to negotiate the best price and terms for any offers received. You should be mindful of any information in the negotiation process that could help your sellers make the best decision for them. Thoroughly screen interested buyers to ensure they are good candidates for the purchase and are preapproved for a mortgage.

Provide constructive feedback. 

You should be candid with your clients about any aspects of your home that need attention, such as repairs that could impede selling. A listing agent also has a duty to disclose any material facts about the property to the buyers and their agents. Also, provide feedback from prospects who have viewed the home. Such critiques could be valuable for sharpening the home’s presentation.

Shepherding the contract and closing process. 

Once your sellers have accepted a buyer’s offer to purchase the home, you should help them navigate the complex steps ahead, such as option fees, escrow, dealing with appraisers and inspectors, finding contractors for repairs, and much more. Again, your organizational skills can spare you and your clients much anxiety as closing day approaches. Above all, you have a fiduciary responsibility to look out for your seller’s best interests. So develop an honest and open working relationship with one another. That’s why it helps network with trusted real estate professionals to ensure seamless transactions and future leads from your happy clients.