Alamo's ideal location in the San Ramon Valley and proximity to popular outdoor destinations like Las Trampas make it a highly desirable area for prospective home buyers. As a result, homes in the area spent an average of only 25 days on the market in the first three months of 2023. If you have a property listed in the highly competitive Alamo real estate market, you may be anticipating a quick sale. Yet, if your real estate agent isn't meeting your expectations, your listing might languish while others are successful.
No real estate agent is perfect for every sale in every situation. Even if you did your due diligence when searching for an experienced local agent, they simply might not be the right fit. When you're trying to sell your home, your relationship with your real estate agent is one of the most important factors. If you notice these warning signs, it might be time to find a new Realtor to sell your Alamo home.
The Realtor isn't available
When you hire a real estate agent to help you sell your home, you're relying on them to take care of certain tasks throughout the process. A professional real estate agent is a multi-tasker familiar with the unpredictable nature of property sales. From answering your questions to showing your home and reviewing offers, your agent should be responsive to your needs. If your agent fails to respond to a missed communication within a day or two or always seems to be out of town, you could miss out on an opportunity to sell your home.
Unprofessional behavior
Real estate agents are bound to certain industry requirements that ensure both parties are treated fairly during a property sale. Potential buyers will expect your real estate agent to behave professionally, and you should too. Unprofessional behavior in real estate can be displayed in several ways. If you've noticed these behaviors, your agent might be the reason buyers are turning away.
- Inappropriate comments
- Tardiness to showings and appointments
- Unprofessional clothing
- Lack of business cards or other professional materials
- Ignored communication
- Unethical behavior like asking you to make a false claim or lie about disclosures
The marketing campaign is underwhelming
Modern homebuyers use a variety of tools and channels to complete their home search. Around 90% of home buyers search online and 68% of shoppers use mobile applications. Video content is also increasingly important to home shoppers, as 86% use video to find out more about a specific community, and 70% use it to tour the inside of a home.
A qualified listing agent should have strong marketing skills and the tools to showcase everything your property and Alamo have to offer. Placing a sign in the yard and listing the property on MLS isn't enough to connect with eager buyers in a modern real estate market. Realtors should have a proactive plan for reaching shoppers through multiple platforms. This could include mailers, social media platforms, the Realtor's website, and open houses. If your home's listing looks unprofessional in comparison to other homes on the market or doesn't have enough reach to get noticed, it may be time to look for an agent with more marketing knowledge.
You feel pressured
It is your Realtor's job to act in your best interest. While you rely on them to provide advice based on their experience, you shouldn't be pressured into making a decision that makes you uncomfortable. If your listing agent pushes you to accept an offer you feel is too low or to make a counteroffer you don't agree with, they could be rushing the sale. A professional agent will provide data to support their opinions and let you make all final decisions. If your agent turns up the pressure when an offer is on the table, it's probably time to walk away.
Your real estate agent lacks negotiation skills
Most home sellers depend on the professionalism of a real estate agent to sell a home. For-sale-by-owner (FSBO) properties only accounted for 10% of home sales in 2021, and these homes sold for an average of $105,000 less than agent-assisted home sales. Strong negotiation skills are a valuable tool that you will depend on during your home sale.
Real estate negotiations require professional knowledge of market pricing, contingencies, and other issues that can arise during a sale. When your agent negotiates on your behalf, they eliminate a substantial amount of stress from the process and help you get the best price for your property. If your agent wants you to take offers without using any negotiation tactics, they may not have the industry skills to help you get a reasonable asking price.
Your property isn't selling
There's never a guarantee that a property will sell quickly. Yet, when comparable listings are being snatched up while yours remains on the market, something is wrong. A professional listing agent uses multiple tools and resources to determine a fair asking price for your home. If your property has been on the market for months with numerous showings, but buyers repeatedly fail to make an offer, the home is likely overpriced.
Realtors seeking more business may attempt to "win" clients by overestimating the value of a home. If your listing price is significantly higher than local comps, it's likely to take much longer to sell. This can create a cyclical effect because homes that sit on the market for long periods leave buyers wondering what's wrong with them. When your home isn't selling, you need a Realtor with a deep understanding of the local market to price the home correctly.
Sell your Alamo home with assistance from the Khrista Jarvis Team
If your relationship with your Alamo listing agent isn't working out, it's time to find a new Realtor. There are various reasons your real estate agent may not be able to meet your needs. Luckily, you have choices. Most often, an agent will release you from a contract when you aren't satisfied so you can move on and they can maintain their reputation.
If your Alamo home sale isn't going as planned, the Khrista Jarvis Team can help. With a high marketing budget, over 40 years of negotiation experience, and thousands of sold homes, they are prepared to craft a successful personalized marketing campaign for your property. Your success is our success. They set the all-time record for the highest sales volume ever recorded in Contra Costa County by developing sound relationships with their clients and consistently working in their best interest. Learn more about how the Khrista Jarvis Team can help you sell your Alamo home.
