When interviewing a beach real estate agent, there are some warning signs to watch out for. Good, experienced agents exist, but you need to know what to look for in them. Glenn Phillips, CEO of Beach Homes Realty, explains four warning signs when talking with beach agents.
- Agent is Not Interviewing the Seller: A good agent won’t just list off reasons you should choose them. Instead, good agents should ask you, the seller, what your goals are, how you will accomplish them, and more. Agents who interview you will treat selling your house like a business transaction, not just a way to earn money. Real estate transactions are a two-sided partnership and should be treated that way.
- Will Take Overpriced Listing Without a Plan: Agents use market analysis, broker opinions, and more to gain a price assessment. Good agents know that an overpriced home will have difficulty selling. If you try to overprice your home, good agents either won’t work with you or they’ll work with you with a plan. However, weaker agents tend to “test” the market with overpriced homes, hoping they sell. This can cause friction when the agent decides it’s time to make a price adjustment if they promised to sell at the high price point.
- Not a Beach Real Estate Expert: Beach property has several nuances that don’t come with typical property. The rules, regulations, homeowner associations, and more are different than any other type of property. Expert beach agents can help you and other agents navigate the deal to get a clean transaction. They also understand how to position your property against similar competition because they know the value proposition is unique to beach real estate.
- Cannot Explain How They Target Out-of-State Buyers: While beach home buyers can come from driving-distance cities, many of them are looking to relocate or retire. These types of buyers often come from out-of-state, sometimes states away. Because of this, your beach property needs to stand out. Expert beach agents can explain the analytics of who is looking at your home and from where. To get the best value for your home, you need an agent who understands how to target the people looking at your home, no matter where they’re located.
There are great agents across the country. However, when it comes to selling your beach home, you need somebody who will knock it out of the park for you. Visit beach-homes.com, where you can find expert beach agents who can guide you through the whole process.