Hiring a real estate agent in Omaha can be challenging! There are so many good agents to choose from, but sometimes it’s hard to find a great one.
Many large real estate agencies will spend thousands of dollars each month to ensure their agents are the most visible, whether it be online, via email campaigns, or by putting up big billboards in the most trafficked areas of Omaha.
But agents backed by the biggest promotion dollars aren’t necessarily always the best, and may not be a good fit for your circumstances. In today’s piece, we’ll look at how you can find a great real estate agent in Omaha.
Get Reviews … Real Reviews!
Online reviews of real estate agents are easily manipulated and sometimes are merely paid advertisements. It’s important to get honest reviews from agents you’re considering; any reputable agent should gladly provide you with recent clients to speak to. They should be proud of their track record.
Another way to check out the agent … just hit Google and type in “[name of agent] reviews” and see what pops up in the Google search. If you see bad reviews on websites like Yelp and others, look to see if the agent tried to engage with those negative reviewers online to resolve the situation.
Ask the Right Questions
Ask the agent you’re considering working with (or better yet, his or her former clients) questions like these to gauge their skill and ability to represent you as a buyer or as a seller:
- Was there any part of the process of buying or selling a home that your clients were pleased or particularly displeased with?
- What was the asking price?
- What was the sales price?
- What other properties have you helped clients buy or sell in my neighborhood?
- In what ways were those homes similar to mine?
Your chance of success in selling your home for a good price is more likely when you choose an agent who has solid experience working with properties that are similar to yours.
Check Credentials
Check with Nebraska’s real estate regulatory authority to verify the Omaha agent’s licensing. While you’re on that website, you can also see any regulatory actions and complaints against the agent. Hopefully, there will be none!
You can also ask the prospective agent how long they’ve been buying and selling homes. If they’re representing an agency, you can inquire how long they’ve been with that particular agency, and their history with other firms.
Above all, it’s important to choose a real estate agent who you can trust. Regular communication is extremely important when selling your home, as in many cases, a house represents the majority of your net worth. You really want an agent who is responsive when you request information and when you want to know the status of how their marketing efforts are working. A good agent will be able to answer questions such as:
- How many inquiries have been made about my home?
- How many of these inquiries came from people likely to make a purchase (not just neighbors or window shoppers)?
- What other properties in my neighborhood are for sale? What’s the asking price of those homes? For those that have sold, how long did the sale take?
Ask the Prospective Agent How They Plan to Market Your House for Sale
Sometimes going the direct route is the best. As you consider working with a particular Omaha real estate agent, ask them how they intend to market your home for sale.
Usually, the experienced and successful agents have a specific marketing plan that will get your house out there and on the market in a big way. Will they use beautiful photography on a website? Will they create a virtual tour, which is very popular these days? How about color brochures for those who come in person? How many open houses do they envision? Will they do anything special to stage your home for sale?
A Low Priced Mark Isn’t Always the Best
Often times Omaha NE home sellers want to go with the lowest priced option when they bring in a realtor to sell their property.
Looking at the numbers … if a real estate agent is earning 3% on a $100,000 sale, that’s $3,000 in fees just to 1 real estate agent (usually both agents representing the buyer and the seller earn commission), so it isn’t cheap. But be sure to do your research before you go with a cut-rate agent or a flat fee agent… because that usually means that the service you get may also be a lower level of service.
Some of the best real estate agents in Omaha have great marketing systems and are able to sell homes faster and for higher prices. So even if you find someone to sell your house at a 1.5% fee… look long and hard at whether you’ll be saving money long term.
The same goes for selling your house to a local real estate investor like Anna Buys Houses. The highest-priced offer isn’t necessarily always the best. Look at the terms of the deal the house buyer offers you and ensure they can close on-time… because every month that goes by costs you money (your mortgage, taxes, insurance, utilities, etc.) to hold the property.
[NOTE: If you need to sell your Omaha house fast and can’t wait the 3-6 months+ it is taking to sell a home on the local market… we may be able to help by buying your house from you. We can make you an all-cash offer within 24-48 hours on your house in as-is condition. ]
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