Preparing and presenting your property are very important parts in the sales process, but the key to getting the best price for your property is selecting the right agent.

First and foremost, you need to choose an agent who knows your area well, but in the Newcastle area, there are over 150 agencies registered with REA with over 400 salespeople.

So, which one should you go for?

These are some of the points you need to consider:

Understanding the local market

As well as asking for past sales examples, a good agent will give you a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), showing the sales of comparable homes in your suburb for the past six months.

We always explain why some properties may have sold for more than others too, that way, you have an understanding of how it could impact your sale.

Negotiation skills

As we know the local market well, we can talk confidently about asking prices, and qualify to potential buyers, comparable sales in the area.

While we are always proactive and have positive relationships with prospective buyers, we always work for you, the seller. We always point out the pros and cons of offers, and what you need to consider for your situation, so you can make an informed decision as to whether you accept it or not.

Exposing your property to the right market

There is a lot more to selling real estate today then taking a few photos and placing it onto the internet; there are 1200 plus homes are usually on the market in the Newcastle area at any given time, so you need to be sure, when buyers are doing their searches for your type of property, your property appears at the top of their list.

The two main selling websites Realestate.com.au and Domain.com.au both have four different listing types, and then a further 6 – 10 options each along with pricing that have vastly different results; we’ve found a saving of $1,200 in using a cheaper listing option could potentially cost you $40,000 plus in your sales price.

Making your property stand out

However, it is not just about these two websites; it’s how the agent displays your property upon them. Yes, all listings show floor plans and photos, and some use a professional photographer and some don’t. However, with professional photographer it is just like an artist some do amazing work and others not so much – your property needs to be in the ‘amazing work’ basket, or you run the risk of people scrolling on.

Since 1973 we have been at the forefront of the real estate industry leading the way in marketing property, and more so in today’s digital multi-medias society when everybody is wanting all the information and response instantly.

This is why we suggest adding a video of your property and a virtual tour. These really do help with making your property more desirable, and help engage further with a buyer; indeed, home buyers spend 52% more time engaging with properties online when they have a virtual tour. Because of the added engagement, the skilled agent steps in to extract a premium offer for the purchase your property.

Commission only or regular salary

You also need to consider today whether the salesperson is on a paid wage with bonus or they are commission only; if they are on commission only, you need to remember, if they don’t sell your property, they have no income.

We do know of instances where a commission only agent has pushed an owner to accept a low offer purely because the agent needed the income.

Unfortunately, in NSW commission only sales people are coming more and more common especially with some of the so called ‘large offices’ with 10 plus sales people. While they say they are part of a big company, these solo commission only salespeople are actually in reality desperate to survive and working alone under the office umbrella.

Fees and contracts

You are about to put your biggest asset in the hands of someone else, so you should be asking questions such as do you have a cancellation clause or are there penalties if I withdraw early?

We believe fees and contracts should be discussed openly and honestly – that way there is no misunderstanding, and everyone knows exactly what to expect should circumstances unexpectedly change.

Our family run independent agency, with 5 highly experienced salespeople had 4% of all the listings in June to August in the Newcastle area; (remember there are over 400 salespeople within this area meaning they should on average have 0.25% each approximately), and we also had over 6.5% of the total views on Realestate.com.au. The way we market our properties and gain these high viewing numbers increases the average sales price for our clients.

If you want to know how we constantly achieve great results for our clients, contact us now for a free, no obligation quote. Call us on 02 4954 8833, email us at: mail@apnewcastle.com.au or call in at the office where we can answer questions, talk you through the process and give you options.

Don’t forget to check out our Facebook page for handy tips on selling your property or what to look for when buying a property.