Did you notice the title of this little rant?  Really think about it.  It’s your choice.  I don’t want you to feel sorry for me because I’m in a wheelchair and hire me for that reason.  I want you to hire me because you are confident that we can work together and you’re sure that I will do the best job for you.  Remember that you will be spending quite a bit of time with your agent throughout the course of any real estate transaction; do you really want to spend it with someone who, at best, you are basically indifferent to or at worst, intimidates you?  Really?  WOW!  Not me!

You need to approach selecting your agent like a job interview.  Write up a list of questions before you invite them over for a chat.  Seek recommendations from friends and associates and then check them out for yourself.  Google them; their online profile can tell you heaps about what you can expect from them.  Make up a short list of candidates. Take a Saturday or three and ‘secret shop’ the open homes of the agents on your short list.  Observe them in their native environment and get a feel for how they do business.  Ask what you can expect from them and what they will expect from you.  Get the full rundown on the process (sale, purchase or property management) and how they operate.  Look at their track record.  Are they selling properties like yours, now?  How about the advertising campaigns they use; do you like their style?  How long are their properties on the market before they sell?

We’re all different, so don’t be surprised if you have to interview a few candidates before you find your 'chosen one'.  I know that I don’t get along with everyone I meet, do you?  So you need to hire someone that’s a good ‘fit’ with you.  They don’t need to be your new best friend, but it’s a lot easier if you at least like them!

Keep one thing in mind while you’re making your final decision; the cheapest real estate agent isn’t necessarily the one who charges the lowest commission.  The cheapest real estate agent is the one who gets the best price for your property.

You may have heard of the Three P’s of real estate?  The formula used for countless years by thousands of devotees to sell your property post haste?

# 1 - Presentation – self explanatory

# 2 - Position – Yes, that’s location, location, location!

# 3 - Price – ‘Realistic’ please! 

While reading real estate stuff, I came across a much more appropriate version; for me anyway.

# 1 – Preparing the Relationship – that’s about you and me

# 2 – Preparing the Property – your property at its best

# 3 – Put it on the Market – self explanatory

Times change and attitudes need to change to keep up. Selling a house has changed forever with the Internet and Social Media now playing a huge role.  Buyers and sellers can do their own research and don't need to rely as heavily on the knowledge and expertise of real estate agents.  They can go on-line and confirm what they are being told on any number of property research websites.  This has meant that real estate agents need to lift their game and provide better service for their clients.  With that in mind, here's my take on the three P's and what they mean for you.

#1 - Preparing the Relationship.  We need to see if we can work together.  It’s kind of like a job interview where we both decide if we ‘fit’.  We’ll discuss the process, what you can expect from me and what I will ask of you.

Don't be afraid to ask questions and interview more than one real estate agent.  Of course, I want you to work with me, but we're all different and if you're anything like me, you don't get on with everyone you meet.  Take your time to get to know more about each agent.  Start by Googling real estate agents in your area and make up a short-list of candidates.

#2 – Preparing the Property.  Your home will probably never look better than when you have it up for sale.  Once we’ve had a look over your property, we can talk about how to present it in the best light.  We want to look at the property from a detached viewpoint; put ourselves in the buyer’s shoes, looking for things we might be able to improve on or feature.  That doesn’t mean you have to spend heaps or make major changes.  On the contrary, it can be something as simple as ‘weed and feeding’ the lawn or tidying up your ‘junk room’ (be honest, everyone has one of those rooms!) Buying (or selling) real estate is an emotional process.  We want everyone that walks through the door to absolutely LOVE your house.  Moreover, we want everyone that sees the property to want to walk through the front door and see what waits inside!

#3 – Putting it on the Market.  OK, we’re prepared and the house is looking smashing!  We've put together a killer marketing campaign, over all media and identified our ‘target market’ (people who would be interested in your piece of paradise).  We’ve had the photos done and they’re fabulous; the advertising text is written, the advertising space is booked and the brochures have been printed.  Time to put it on the market.