Choosing the right real estate
There are more than 7,000 companies with a real estate license registered in Portugal, at IMPIC . The task of choosing the right mediation company doesn't seem easy, does it? If I were in your shoes and wanted to buy or sell my house, here are some of the questions I would ask:
Large or small real estate?
Here is a question that has no single answer. If you want to sell your property for a high price (over €350,000), or if you are located in a high demand area, then visibility is the right word . Obviously, in theory, a larger company or real estate franchising brand has more financial resources available to promote its property. Furthermore, if the promotion is carried out by an international brand, it will be more sought after by foreign buyers , for whom the confidence and security of already knowing the real estate brand is important.
On the other hand, for a property that is not located in an area with strong international and tourist demand, or has a lower sale price, the importance of a local agency cannot be overlooked.Having physical facilities close to the area where your property is located can help, as interested parties who live in that location are likely to know the agency.
Real estate that works with exclusivity, yes or no?
This is a question that is always asked when choosing a real estate company. Not wanting to influence, as the Keller Williams I work for operates on an exclusive basis (except for high-value properties or new construction projects), it is an issue that must be considered depending on your degree of trust in the real estate agent or consultant. chosen. If you don't know any professional with references in whom you can place your trust exclusively, you can choose to sell on an open basis. But don't forget that there are disadvantages to open selling that I describe in this article: contract-exclusivity-in-the-sale-your-house-is-not-a-disadvantage . If this is your option, I do not recommend more than 3 real estate agencies and all of them must have some dimension.
On the other hand , the Exclusivity Contract is not a bogeyman !Issues such as the duration of the contract (usually 6 months) can scare the owner, but this issue is not that important when weighed against the advantages mentioned in my article. For my clients this has never been a problem!
And is the Real Estate Consultant important?
Well, for me choosing the right person is not decisive but it is one of the most important issues! How many times when dealing with service companies, eg. a Bank, don't we feel the same? If the manager is to our liking, we follow him, regardless of the agency where he works. The same goes for the hairdresser or any other professional whose service we have been satisfied with. Empathy is the keyword!
I believe that, more than having a lot of experience in the real estate sector (which obviously cannot be small) there must be a relationship of trust and harmonious collusion between the owner and the real estate consultant. Choose someone with whom you can talk and negotiate throughout the entire process and who is willing to do so, otherwise, at the slightest obstacle, " the varnish will crack " .
I firmly believe in choosing a consultant who works according to our interests and not just his or the company he represents. Look for professionals who show values such as honesty and transparency. Look for someone recognized for the effort and dedication they put into their work, who is entrepreneurial and autonomous and who knows how to talk and how to be . Finally, as much as this may seem unfair, give priority to a professional with proven evidence, as I say: there are many consultants, but there are few top ones!
And Marketing?
Ask yourself: " Is this real estate marketing about them or their properties? ". This confusion often happens, there are brands or consultants that invest a lot in self-promotion, but in relation to the properties they promote, they lack investment.
And when we talk about Marketing, we also talk about everything that can improve customers' perception of your property: good photographs (that do not distort the perception of third parties), videos, good descriptions, professional translation of the property (at least in English ), etc. etc.
On the other hand, it is important that the properties have paid highlights on the main advertising sites ( Idealista , Imovirtual , etc.), it is not enough for your property to be placed and after 1 week it disappears at the bottom of the listings of these sites. It is also important to publicize it on social networks, Google and Bing, etc. etc. Anything that can increase the visibility of your property is good, as long as it is done with quality and professionalism.
How can I evaluate a consultant or a real estate company?
Start by looking for references from other homeowners you know who have sold their home well. There is no better reference than a referral from a previous customer who was satisfied. Look for a consultant who specializes in the area in which your property is located. There is always someone who stands out the most, this is one you should consider.
Try to talk to him, ask questions such as: "How long do you think I would sell my house?", "How much do you think my house could be worth?", "What do you base your estimate on?", "Have you market research that you can show me?", "what properties have you sold recently in this area?", "what marketing strategy will you use to promote my property?". "What improvements do you advise me to make before putting my house up for sale?" By the type of answers, you will have a perception of who is ahead. Too much optimism is bad.Miraculous sale price above your expectations is also bad. Look for signs of honesty and humility and someone you trust. Value sincerity and passion in your speech. Assess the degree of technical knowledge he has. Follow your instinct!
Successful consultants never come out of nowhere , it takes a long time to build a track record that attracts a portfolio of quality real estate. They usually have a career in public relations, have an academic background or curriculum, master languages and above all it is easy to check the trail of properties sold, awards, testimonials, etc. Google and Linkedin are your trusted friends when it comes to evaluating a professional's resume and background.
As for real estate agencies, assess whether the telephone service front-office is good. Try to find out the positive or negative trail they always leave on the Web. It is easy to see if there are many complaints or legal imbroglios, the Internet is a minefield of clues, for better or for worse. Try to balance the negative testimonies with the positive ones. All companies have grievances, what is important is to check if those responsible are concerned with responding and if the type of answers show a real desire to solve the problems that always occur.
There are not many rankings that you can use to evaluate a real estate company, but its presence on social networks helps to gauge the degree of customer satisfaction, or not. A company with little presence on social media, or with few testimonials, can be an indication of a lack of transparency.