Grant Wiebe

"The best indicator of future performance is past performance." 

Although past performance isn't the only criteria that a seller should use when choosing a REALTOR® to list their property, a REALTOR®'s past success is a critical factor that is often missing from many REALTORS® listing presentations.

Think about the job interview process as a comparable example.  A business owner or H.R. manager would never think of conducting a job interview without looking at a potential employee's previous experience and their level of success (or lack or it) in their field.

When hiring a REALTOR® to market and sell your most valuable asset (your home), it's so important that you look beyond the professional appearance of a REALTOR®'s presentation and take some time to focus on the hard facts related to his or her competence and experience.  REALTORS® in the Central Okanagan sold an average of approximately 10 properties each last year, which means there are a number of REALTORS® who sold 2, 3 or 4 properties last year - is that the level of practice and experience that you would expect when hiring a listing agent?  Here are some examples of things to consider when interviewing a REALTOR®:

• How many years has a potential REALTOR® been in the business?  How many properties have they sold over their career?  This is easy information for a REALTOR® to provide and it will give a potential client an idea of the scope and diversity of experience that a REALTOR® has.
• How many properties has a potential REALTOR® sold each year for the last two or three years?  This is also easy information for a REALTOR® to provide and it gives a potential client a good picture of how currently active a REALTOR® is in the business and how sharp and up-to-date their knowledge and skills are. Don't be afraid to ask for a detailed list of recent sales.
• What do a potential REALTOR®'s past clients have to say about him/her?  If he/she doesn't provide an extensive list of testimonials on his/her website, ask for a list to be provided.  It's also a good idea to ask if it's okay for you to contact a couple of his/her recent past clients.

Strategic online marketing strategies are very important and shouldn't be ignored when choosing a REALTOR®, however, if Sellers take some time to step back from the "bright lights" of a typical REALTOR®'S listing presentation and focus a little more on the hard facts of a REALTOR®'s past performance and track record, many sellers will go into the selling process with more accurate expectations and hopefully, a better experience.  REALTORS® in the Central Okanagan sold an average of approximately 10 properties each last year, which means there are a number of REALTORS® who sold 2, 3 or 4 properties last year - is that the level of practice and experience that you would expect when hiring a listing agent?

If you (or someone you know) are thinking of selling your home in the Kelowna area, call me (250-869-2279) or send me an email (grant.wiebe@century21.ca) and we can discuss how I can help.  In addition to my cutting edge strategies & marketing plan, I promise I'll provide you with the info I've outlined above:).