The Listing Agent - Preliminary Marketing of Your
Home
The "Real" Role of a Listing Agent
When you bought your home, you probably used the services of a real estate agent. You found that agent
through a referral from a friend or family member, or through some sort of advertising or marketing. The
agent helped you in many ways and eventually you found the house of your dreams, made an offer, closed
the deal, and moved in.
For whatever reason, now it is time to sell your home and you need a real estate agent again. Many home
sellers, especially those selling their first home, tend to think all agents are similar to the one that helped
them buy their home.
Although real estate agents can (and do) work with both buyers and sellers, most tend to concentrate more
on one than the other. They specialize. When you bought your home, you probably worked with a "selling
agent" – an agent that works mostly with buyers. Because of the nature of real estate advertising and
marketing, the public’s main image of the real estate profession is that of the selling agent (buyer's agent).
As a result, many homeowners expect their listing agent to do the same things that a selling agent does –
find someone to buy their home. After all, they do the things you would expect if they were searching for
buyers. A sign goes up in the front yard. Ads are placed in the local newspaper and real estate magazines.
Your agent holds an open house on the weekend. Your house is proudly displayed on the Internet.
But this is only "surface" marketing. More important activity occurs behind the scenes. After the "for sale"
sign goes up and flyers are printed, your agent’s main job is to market your home to other agents, not to
homebuyers.
Home
The "Real" Role of a Listing Agent
When you bought your home, you probably used the services of a real estate agent. You found that agent
through a referral from a friend or family member, or through some sort of advertising or marketing. The
agent helped you in many ways and eventually you found the house of your dreams, made an offer, closed
the deal, and moved in.
For whatever reason, now it is time to sell your home and you need a real estate agent again. Many home
sellers, especially those selling their first home, tend to think all agents are similar to the one that helped
them buy their home.
Although real estate agents can (and do) work with both buyers and sellers, most tend to concentrate more
on one than the other. They specialize. When you bought your home, you probably worked with a "selling
agent" – an agent that works mostly with buyers. Because of the nature of real estate advertising and
marketing, the public’s main image of the real estate profession is that of the selling agent (buyer's agent).
As a result, many homeowners expect their listing agent to do the same things that a selling agent does –
find someone to buy their home. After all, they do the things you would expect if they were searching for
buyers. A sign goes up in the front yard. Ads are placed in the local newspaper and real estate magazines.
Your agent holds an open house on the weekend. Your house is proudly displayed on the Internet.
But this is only "surface" marketing. More important activity occurs behind the scenes. After the "for sale"
sign goes up and flyers are printed, your agent’s main job is to market your home to other agents, not to
homebuyers.
Doug Baird
Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realtors
Office 616-975-0595
Fax 616-940-2954
Cel 616-490-8529
Coldwell Banker Schmidt Realtors
Office 616-975-0595
Fax 616-940-2954
Cel 616-490-8529