Choosing an agent is a really important part of the process, and that initial phone call can be quite daunting.

You might be at the very beginning of your sale process, you might even just want to speak to an agent to see if it is the right time to sell. It can no doubt be a nervous time for some, especially if this is their first time selling a home. So, what do you say when you first reach out to a real estate agent?

It comes down to what you really want to achieve. Are you looking for advice or have you decided you definitely need to sell, and this is your first step?

If you’re still at the stage of finding the right agent, think local and do some research into their past sales. Are they successful with lots of sales? Are they selling similar properties to yours? Do they have good reviews? Once you’ve found the agents, or agency that you’d like to have initial discussion with, it’s time to make a call. You might lead with, “We are considering if now is a good time to sell and would love some advice”. Or you may lead with, “We have decided to sell our house, what are the first steps?”

Real estate agents will be able to advise you every step of the way. Barry Plant agents will take you through a step-by-step process, so you can feel at ease from the very first phone call.

After initial phone contact the agent may send you a list of questions to answer so that when they visit your home or investment property, they will have some good background information so they can come prepared. When you meet, they will discuss the possible sale, your goals and timelines, what you would like to achieve, and then offer their advice.

A local sales agent will know the area very well and will have all the suburbs and surrounding areas’ previous sales at hand. They will provide you with a really good understanding about what sale price you might be able to achieve, based on what similar properties have sold for recently.

It is strongly advised to have open conversations with your agent around your expectations, your time constraints, and your next moves as you may also need to buy and they can help.

The main thing to remember is when reaching out to a real estate agent, you should feel very comfortable about their expertise as sales agents. Although it may seem like a nervous and daunting time, these agents are professionals within the industry and have dealt with all kinds of sellers, so they will understand.

The most important thing is to find a good agent that you are comfortable with and that you can relate to.

To find an agency and agent within your local area, visit www.barryplant.com.au/offices/