How to spot a good agent at an open home

How to spot a good agent at an open home

We have all gone to open homes to look at properties we are looking to buy or rent but when was the last time you visited an open home to scout out an agent. 

What a great opportunity to use an open home as a red hot research tool when looking for your new agent.
A great agent, displays a number of features & techniques that are displayed at open homes and this is a great way to find the agent that will suit you and your home while setting a professional standard and hunting out the perfect buyer for your property.

Here’s a few things that you may want to consider when you are out shopping for an agent this weekend:

1. Did your agent, show up on time to the open home organised and ready to sell? Believe it or not, many agents are so overrun by properties to sell that they often run late, this not only puts off the possible buyer but it means they get to the home flustered and not on their best game. Ideally an agent is there 15 minutes early and has time to open up the property, turn on the lights, switch on the air con, present it ready for sale and in its best light.

2. Upon arriving at the open home was it well signed? Did it look open for inspection from the road? While the majority of buyers are aware of where they are inspecting, if the address is at all tricky, you will want clear signage. Also there are a small portion of buyers that are passive in the market and drive passed and open home that they may not have previously inspected. Truth: A passive buyer will usually pay more as they are typically more emotional and buy with their heart.

3. Did the agent take your name & number? If you were the owner wouldn’t you want to know your agent was following up EVERY person that went through the property? What if the person they missed was the buyer that would pay the most and they fall through the cracks due to poor follow up.

4. Was there a wow factor at the open home? Were you perusing to the soft sounds of music, was the agent friendly and approachable, did they smile and let you roam without stalking you from room to room? Some agents are great at building rapport with buyers and this is helpful during negotiations, not to mention most people like to deal with people they actually like and find easy to talk and communicate with.

5. Did the agent follow you up? Here is an alarming stat… if you are home seller you may want to sit down. 8 out of 10 agents secret shopped in an industry study, DID NOT call the buyers back that came through the open homes. Although no one ever likes to be hounded by an agent, isn’t it the agents job to gather feedback, offers and a potential sale as result of the open home. If the agent isn’t calling you back, guess what they aren’t calling back anyone else either. This is a red hot sign that this agent is not for you.

Potential buyers often use buying signals. Imagine if you knew as a home seller that agent didn’t call you back potential buyers.