Welcome to the Selling Southport Podcast. I'm Andrew Wright, principal of Professional Southport since 2008. Real estate isn't just my career, it's my passion with decades of experience. I know what it takes to succeed in the property market, especially here in Southport. Whether you're looking to buy, sell, lease, or invest, you can count on me and my team to deliver strategies that maximise your returns.

Let's dive into today's episode and get you one step closer to your property goals.

Hi, I'm Andrew Wright and welcome back to Selling Southport. If you've booked a listing meeting or you're getting close to choosing a real estate agent to sell your home, then this episode is for you. Today, I'm walking you through exactly what to ask, what to watch for, and how to make sure the agent you choose is the right one to represent your home and your goals.

Let's start with the basics. What is a listing meeting? A listing meeting is where you sit down with a real estate agent. Maybe a few agents and talk about how they would approach selling your home. It's your chance to ask questions, compare strategies, ultimately decide who's going to represent your most valuable asset.

Here's the most important thing I'll say in this whole episode. The listing meeting isn't about the agent choosing you. It's about you choosing the right agent. This is your interview, and like any good interview you want to go in prepared. In a typical listing meeting, the agent will cover things like how they will market your property, what price they think it could achieve their suggested method of sale, be it auction or private treaty, their timeline and the next thing's to get started.

But a good meeting isn't just a presentation, it's a two-way conversation, and you should absolutely come with your own questions prepared because not all agents work the same way, and not all agents will be the right fit for you. Here are a few smart questions you can ask in your listing meeting to really understand who you're dealing with.

How long have you been working in the Southport area? You want someone who knows the area inside and out. Ask them to share some recent local results, what they sold for, how much and the process they went through to achieve the results. What's your marketing strategy? Ask them how they plan to get your property seen online, offline, social media, emails, signboards, open homes, the lot.

How do you price my home? And will you provide a CMA look for someone who uses real recent data? Be cautious of agents who throw out a high price just to win your listing. Don't be swayed by the highest price. Big guided by a realistic plan. How will we communicate and how often? Do you prefer calls, texts, or emails?

And how frequently will you be updated on interest offers and buyer feedback, both positive and negative on your property? What are your fees and are there any extra costs? Understand the commission structure and what you're paying for marketing, photography, et cetera. How do you handle negotiations? You want someone who's calm, skilled, and experienced when the offers start coming in.

Now here's some really key advice what to watch for. Both good signs and red flags. Good signs can be clear, confident answers, specific local sales stories, a structured marketing plan. They listen to your goals and tailor the strategies to meet red flags. They dunno recent sales in your area. They can't clearly explain how they'll market your home.

They give vague or overblown pricing promises. They seem distracted, rushed, or defensive. If an agent can't clearly explain how they'll sell your home, they're probably not the right one to sell it. Trust your gut instincts. If something feels off, it probably is. Finally, think about this. You're going to be working closely with this agent over the coming weeks and possibly months, so ask yourself, do I feel like I can trust this person?

I. Do they seem honest and invested in me and my property? Are they listening to me or just trying to impress me? Do they have a team of experts that will contribute to achieving the best result for my property? At the end of the day, the right agent will feel like a partner, not just a salesperson.

Choosing the right agent is one of the most important decisions you'll make in the selling process, and I really encourage you to take your time with it. Ask questions, compare options, and choose the person who makes you feel most confident in the process, the price, and the partnership. I hope this episode has helped you feel more prepared, more informed, and more in control heading into your listing meeting, if you've booked a time to meet with me already, fantastic.

I'm looking forward to hearing about your goals, looking at your property, and putting together a strategy to get you the best result for you. Until then, thanks for tuning in. I'm Andrew Wright and this is Selling Southport. Thanks for listening to the Selling Southport podcast. I hope today's episode has given you some valuable insights and practical advice on the local real estate market.

Whether you're looking to buy, sell, lease, or invest, I'm here to share my extensive experience and guide you every step of the way. If you have any questions or want to discuss your next property move, don't hesitate to reach out. Your success is my priority. Stay tuned for more expert tips and updates on the Southport property scene.   

Welcome to the Selling Southport Podcast. I'm Andrew Wright, principal of Professional Southport since 2008. Real estate isn't just my career, it's my passion with decades of experience. I know what it takes to succeed in the property market, especially here in Southport. Whether you're looking to buy, sell, lease, or invest, you can count on me and my team to deliver strategies that maximise your returns.

Let's dive into today's episode and get you one step closer to your property goals.

Hi, I'm Andrew Wright and welcome back to Selling Southport. If you've booked a listing meeting or you're getting close to choosing a real estate agent to sell your home, then this episode is for you. Today, I'm walking you through exactly what to ask, what to watch for, and how to make sure the agent you choose is the right one to represent your home and your goals.

Let's start with the basics. What is a listing meeting? A listing meeting is where you sit down with a real estate agent. Maybe a few agents and talk about how they would approach selling your home. It's your chance to ask questions, compare strategies, ultimately decide who's going to represent your most valuable asset.

Here's the most important thing I'll say in this whole episode. The listing meeting isn't about the agent choosing you. It's about you choosing the right agent. This is your interview, and like any good interview you want to go in prepared. In a typical listing meeting, the agent will cover things like how they will market your property, what price they think it could achieve their suggested method of sale, be it auction or private treaty, their timeline and the next thing's to get started.

But a good meeting isn't just a presentation, it's a two-way conversation, and you should absolutely come with your own questions prepared because not all agents work the same way, and not all agents will be the right fit for you. Here are a few smart questions you can ask in your listing meeting to really understand who you're dealing with.

How long have you been working in the Southport area? You want someone who knows the area inside and out. Ask them to share some recent local results, what they sold for, how much and the process they went through to achieve the results. What's your marketing strategy? Ask them how they plan to get your property seen online, offline, social media, emails, signboards, open homes, the lot.

How do you price my home? And will you provide a CMA look for someone who uses real recent data? Be cautious of agents who throw out a high price just to win your listing. Don't be swayed by the highest price. Big guided by a realistic plan. How will we communicate and how often? Do you prefer calls, texts, or emails?

And how frequently will you be updated on interest offers and buyer feedback, both positive and negative on your property? What are your fees and are there any extra costs? Understand the commission structure and what you're paying for marketing, photography, et cetera. How do you handle negotiations? You want someone who's calm, skilled, and experienced when the offers start coming in.

Now here's some really key advice what to watch for. Both good signs and red flags. Good signs can be clear, confident answers, specific local sales stories, a structured marketing plan. They listen to your goals and tailor the strategies to meet red flags. They dunno recent sales in your area. They can't clearly explain how they'll market your home.

They give vague or overblown pricing promises. They seem distracted, rushed, or defensive. If an agent can't clearly explain how they'll sell your home, they're probably not the right one to sell it. Trust your gut instincts. If something feels off, it probably is. Finally, think about this. You're going to be working closely with this agent over the coming weeks and possibly months, so ask yourself, do I feel like I can trust this person?

I. Do they seem honest and invested in me and my property? Are they listening to me or just trying to impress me? Do they have a team of experts that will contribute to achieving the best result for my property? At the end of the day, the right agent will feel like a partner, not just a salesperson.

Choosing the right agent is one of the most important decisions you'll make in the selling process, and I really encourage you to take your time with it. Ask questions, compare options, and choose the person who makes you feel most confident in the process, the price, and the partnership. I hope this episode has helped you feel more prepared, more informed, and more in control heading into your listing meeting, if you've booked a time to meet with me already, fantastic.

I'm looking forward to hearing about your goals, looking at your property, and putting together a strategy to get you the best result for you. Until then, thanks for tuning in. I'm Andrew Wright and this is Selling Southport. Thanks for listening to the Selling Southport podcast. I hope today's episode has given you some valuable insights and practical advice on the local real estate market.

Whether you're looking to buy, sell, lease, or invest, I'm here to share my extensive experience and guide you every step of the way. If you have any questions or want to discuss your next property move, don't hesitate to reach out. Your success is my priority. Stay tuned for more expert tips and updates on the Southport property scene.