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By Bill Petrey, Realtor
 The biggest mistake buyers and sellers make when hiring a Realtor is that they do not do their homework before hiring a real estate agent. They end up with a house that sits on the market longer, sells for a lower price, and the time spent dealing with that agent is a nightmare. AgentHarvest helps minimize the chance of these things happening by finding agents in your area that are currently selling houses like yours, in your neighborhood, for you to interview. We don’t make you sign contracts and you are not obligated to use any of the agents we connect you with. So basically AgentHarvest is a free service requiring no obligations on your part.
Here’s what our customers have to say about our agent finder services.
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By Bill Petrey, Realtor
PRESS RELEASE: August 22, 2011 – Dallas, Texas
THE AGENTHARVEST TOP 3 WILL REVEAL TOP PERFORMING AGENTS IN 45 AREAS IN DFW.
On August 22, 2011, AgentHarvest announced that it will create and maintain The AgentHarvest Top 3, a ranking of top-selling real estate agents and share that list with its clients for free. The first metro area will be the Dallas/Fort Worth Area. Other areas in Texas and the rest of the United States will follow.
We have already started rolling out areas that we have coverage in and will add additional areas in DFW when we find the highest ranking agents in each area.
About AgentHarvest
AgentHarvest is a free real estate agent finder service that helps buyers and sellers find top . . . → Read More: The AgentHarvest Top 3 – A Ranking Of Top-Selling Real Estate Agents
By Bill Petrey, Realtor
Short sales are far more complicated than conventional home sales. One of the reasons for the additional complications is the intimate involvement with the bank. The bank is almost as involved in the transaction as the seller. They have to approve the price and they have final approval of the sale. This added involvement complicates the home selling process by adding additional approvals, additional delays and could result in the rejection of many offers the seller wants to take.
To handle the added complications of a short sale, you need a Realtor that is experienced in performing short sales and knows how to effectively negotiate with the bank. Notice I said “experienced in.” I didn’t say “took a class in” or “has a Short . . . → Read More: How Agents Screw Up Short Sales
By Bill Petrey, Realtor
Homeowners should demand a minimum level of service from their agent before they’re hired. Here are some of the performance level minimums that clients should force their agents to provide. Most homeowners are not aware of what duties a real estate agent performs so it’s really easy for lazy real estate agents to get away with sub-standard performance. That’s why it’s important to let the agent know what you expect before you hire them and let them know that you will terminate the contract if the agent doesn’t meet your minimum levels of service standards. Here are a few of the services you should demand from your agent.
Minimum Level of Agent Services Reports showing sales activity and pricing in your area. Reports showing . . . → Read More: Minimum Level Of Service Clients Should Demand From An Agent – The Client’s Bill Of Rights
By Bill Petrey, Realtor
To be successful in selling new-construction houses, you not only need the right real estate agent with a successful history of selling new-construction properties, but you need to keep that real estate agent motivated too. Here’s how you can do it.
In today’s new construction residential real estate market, just hiring the same Realtor you’ve always used to sell an entire subdivision of new construction properties is no longer an effective way to sell your speculative properties. To sell new-construction properties in this market you have to do three things, hire real estate agents that are currently selling new-construction properties, use more than one agent, and make your agents compete for additional listings.
Picking the Right Real Estate Agent
Don’t just find a real . . . → Read More: Motivating Agents To Sell New-Construction Properties Faster
By Bill Petrey, Realtor
You’re a successful real estate agent with a stellar reputation, and a highly revered name. You’re on a well-respected team and work for one of the largest real estate offices in your city. You’ve also won several awards proving your greatness. You have all the popular accreditations, enough acronyms to fill a whole line of text on your business card. When you walk the halls of your real estate agency, all of the agents stop what they’re doing to take notice of your entrance. While your credentials seem undeniably impressive, they may only serve to impress you and your colleagues. But that’s hardly the point of having them is it?
I’ve heard comments from homeowners after interviewing agents such as, “She told me about . . . → Read More: How Being An Impressive Agent Can Turn Off Potential Clients
By Bill Petrey, Realtor
You know beyond a doubt that you are a successful real estate agent. You have been asked by AgentHarvest to give a listing presentation to a homeowner in a neighborhood that you’ve sold lots of houses in. You have done your homework, you know the neighborhood, and you have a great reputation in the real estate industry. Basically this listing is in the bag. However, you discover that you couldn’t be more wrong. The homeowner chose another real estate agent. Where did you go wrong? Why did they choose the another agent?
I’m in a unique position to see successful real estate agents lose listings all the time, which is why I am writing this article. Our company, AgentHarvest, introduces homeowners to top producing . . . → Read More: Why Homeowners Choose The Other Real Estate Agent
By Bill Petrey, Realtor
Here are the signs that you may need to consider hiring a new real estate agent to sell your house.
10. Your real estate agent’s sign has become sun faded in your front yard
9. Your real estate agent is more devoted to attracting Twitter Followers than buyers
8. Your real estate agent’s only advice is to be patient
7. All of the other houses in your neighborhood have sold
6. Your MLS pictures were taken with snow on the ground and now it’s the middle of summer
5. Your real estate agent’s open houses only attract people looking for free food
4. Every week, your agent asks for a price drop
3. Your listing flyer information box is always empty
2. Your agent . . . → Read More: Top 10 Signs That You Need A New Real Estate Agent
By Bill Petrey, Realtor
While interviewing multiple real estate agents to find an agent to sell your home, you should never tell those agents anything you wouldn’t want the buyer to know. Why? Because you’ll only be hiring one agent and that’s the only agent that must protect your secrets. The other agents may have buyers waiting to make you an offer and since they represent the buyer’s interests, it’s their job to tell that buyer everything you told that agent if they’re interested in buying your house. Imagine trying to negotiate with a buyer that already knows your bottom line and desperation to sell before he ever sets foot in your house.
Things not to reveal during a real estate agent interview: The lowest price you would . . . → Read More: 4 Things You Must Never Reveal To A Real Estate Agent Until You Hire Them
By Bill Petrey, Realtor
A few days ago, I got a call from a potential client interested in firing his real estate agent and using our services to hire a better agent. This homeowner was very unhappy with his agent and thought he didn’t do enough to attract buyers to his house. After having the house on the market for about 116 days, the homeowner saw little activity. However, once the homeowner attempted to fire his real estate agent, the agent was able to produce a contract in less than three days. While I don’t like losing potential clients, I am extremely happy that this homeowner was able to sell his house and if this contract doesn’t close, I look forward to helping this client find another agent. . . . → Read More: Want To Motivate Your Real Estate Agent? Fire Him!
By Bill Petrey, Realtor
It’s not too hard to find neighborhoods where home prices don’t fall. Highly desirable neighborhoods that maintain or increase in value have a few characteristics in common.
A well-established neighborhood close to a city Homes priced slightly above the median home price Has few, if any foreclosures Has long-term neighbors that have lived in the home for over 15 years Neighborhood is convenient to major highways, and/or public transportation for easy commuting Amenities such as parks, playgrounds, a gated community with security, etc. Located in good school districts Have low crime rate statistics Have well maintained houses, yards, streets, curbs, and other signs of neighborhood pride.
I also recommend a few other signs of a good neighborhood that will probably hold its value.
Very . . . → Read More: 12 Tips For Finding Neighborhoods That Don’t Lose Value
By Bill Petrey, Realtor
I’m amazed at how many people will hire the first real estate agent that they interview. I mean, you never buy the first car you test drive, order the first item you see on the menu, hire the first job seeker you interview, and women don’t sleep with the first person that tells them they’re pretty. However if I’m wrong about the latter, then may I be the first to tell my female readership how pretty you look reading this article.
It’s been a well proven fact that most people will hire the first real estate agent they interview. Agents know this and count on it. I’ve seen it happen countless times during my career at AgentHarvest, even though we stress the importance of . . . → Read More: Never Hire The First Real Estate Agent You Meet
By Bill Petrey, Realtor
Virtual Tours have become the new “got to have” tool in the agent’s arsenal and every client wants their house featured in a virtual tour. I hate the virtual tour packages that are popular today. I always have and I always will. There are two types of virtual tours that I see most often. The first is a set of still photographs created in a slideshow that looks like a crappy PowerPoint slideshow complete with annoying background music that grates on your nerves and announces to all your co-workers that you are loafing on the job if you have your PC’s volume set too high. The second virtual tour, I actually don’t mind so much, and that is a series of photos, shot through . . . → Read More: About Virtual Tours And Why I Hate Them
By Bill Petrey, Realtor
Not every real estate agent takes your listing with the intent on selling it. Some agents like to keep houses they’re listing as trophies. By keeping houses as trophies, an agent can use it as listing bait, to attract other listings, and as buyer bait, to attract buyers that they can steer to other homes they’re trying to sell. This article explains how trophies are used and how to avoid real estate agents that collect, but never sell trophies.
How Trophy Listings Are Used
Basically, all listings are trophies to a real estate agent. Agents display their trophies on “New Listing” postcard mailings that they send to prospective sellers in a new territory they’re trying to break into. They use your listing to attract . . . → Read More: House Not Selling? Maybe Your Agent Is Only Using It As A Trophy?
By Bill Petrey, Realtor
Did you know that all disciplinary actions filed by the state of Texas, against a real estate agent, are available to you through the Internet? If you want to find out which Texas agents the Texas Real Estate Commission filed disciplinary actions against you can go to http://www.trec.state.tx.us/complaintsconsumer/DiscipActions.asp.
On that site, you can search by month, city or agent name to find what, if any violations have been filed that fall under your search criteria. I recommend that you search this list before hiring any agent, or your complaint could be the next one filed.
By Bill Petrey, Realtor
You’re home has been listed for months and no one’s interested in it. Is it a problem with the house, the housing market, or your neighborhood? Possibly, but it could also be your real estate agent’s fault. The Forbes article, referenced below, focuses on five traits that could point the finger of blame squarely at your real estate agent. I’ve also added a few more.
Lack of Communication Lack of Leadership Unused Resources Too Much Pressure Lack of Follow-Up
While these five signs are good, I have a few more.
Weakness During Negotiations
When you first interviewed them, were they willing to reduce their commissions without a struggle? If they’ll give away their earnings, they’ll give away yours even quicker when the buyer negotiations . . . → Read More: Top 10 Signs You Hired The Wrong Real Estate Agent
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