By DAVID HOUCK
Qualifying Broker
Atomic Realty LLC

At Atomic Realty we are biased.

We believe working with a real estate Broker will help you sell your house faster, smoother, and usually for more money than if you don’t use a Broker.

The difficulty lies in how to choose who to work with:

• Compare what companies do and charge. Treat the sale of your home as a business It is generally one of your largest assets, protect it. Get the best value for your money. We believe you should check around.
• Ask Brokers “Can you provide me with a list or what your service includes?” Be blunt, ask them what justifies what they charge and what is unique about the service they provide.
• Ask “Do you have another job?” Ask “if you have another job how do you expect to service my property adequately?” It is likely their loyalty is at their job, not to you or your property or your investment.
• Ask how many homes THEY PERSONALLY have listed or sold, don’t be misled by “my team sold” or “my office sold” or “my franchise sold”. What did they list or sell?
• Commissions are always negotiable. If you hire a Broker merely because they are “a friend” make sure they are a good friend because you may be “gifting” them a lot of YOUR money. If they are truly your friend, ask them to provide a list of what services they provide and to REDUCE their commission. You may find friendship has its limits.
• Most successful Sellers and employers look at education, and experience as the cornerstones for hiring, not how long a Broker has lived somewhere or the friends they keep. Why would a Seller’s property investment be any less important or professional?

Don’t be pressured into using a Brokerage that may not be a good fit for you. Endless emails and unsolicited calls are a sign of a high pressure salesman, you are an adult and can make rational decisions based on data, without high pressure. A professional Broker should encourage you to make the best decision for you even if it’s not best for them.

Editor’s note: David Houck is the Qualifying Broker for Atomic Realty, with 40 years’ experience, a BS in math and physics and a doctorate in law. For more details on these issues and answers to selling and buying questions, see AtomicRealty.net.