These days it can be quite difficult to sell a home in Lakewood Ranch. The real estate market has crashed so fast that houses are selling for much less than they were a couple of years ago.

For example, houses on our block in Lakewood Ranch are selling for $100,000 less than they were just two years ago.

This makes selling a home in Lakewood Ranch a real challenge.

And, this makes finding the right Lakewood Ranch real estate agent that much more important.

Unfortunately, many people make crucial mistakes when choosing their real estate agent…mistakes that can end up costing thousands of dollars…sometimes tens of thousands of dollars.

Here are 7 tips for choosing a Lakewood Ranch real estate agent. Tips that will not only help you sell your house, but also save you money!

1. It’s Business, Not Personal: Don’t choose a real estate agent just because she’s your friend. That doesn’t mean you can’t pick a friend to be your real estate agent…it just means that that shouldn’t be the reason you picked her. Choosing a friend to be your real estate agent can be a big mistake for two reasons. First of all, just because the person is a good friend doesn’t mean they are a good real estate agent. This leads to the second problem, which is that your friendship will most likely end.

2. How many listings does the realtor have? A real estate agent with many listings is not necessarily the best option. Remember, you want a real estate agent who will spend the time to sell YOUR home. If a real estate agent has a lot of listings, be sure to ask if they have an assistant. Too many listings and no assistants simply means the realtor won’t be able to spend the time to sell your home.

3. When will the real estate agent list your house on the MLS? If you want to sell your home in Lakewood Ranch, you must be registered with both the Sarasota MLS and the Manatee County MLS. This is the most important step in selling your Lakewood Ranch home. Therefore, your real estate agent should have your home listed on BOTH within 24 hours. There’s simply no excuse for a real estate agent taking a week or two to list your home.

4. How many photos will the real estate agent post in their listing? In addition to knowing how long it will take to appear on the MLS, you should also ask how many images will be published. If there are no pictures on MLS, your home probably won’t show up. Remember, if a picture is worth a thousand words, fifteen pictures are worth fifteen thousand words.

5. Where else will the real estate agent put your house? While having your home listed in the Sarasota and Manatee County MLS is by far the most important thing, you should also ask your real estate agent where else your home will be listed. These days, many people search for a house on the Internet without a real estate agent. They search places like Craigslist, eBay, Yahoo Real Estate, Google, Zillow, Truilla, as well as online newspaper websites like the Sarasota Herald Tribune, New York Times, and Boston Globe. Make sure your real estate agent intends to list you in as many (if not all) of these places.

6. Will the real estate agent tell you the truth? Be sure to find a real estate agent who has a reputation for being brutally honest. Real estate agents often tell their clients exactly what the client “wants” to hear. Real estate agents are often afraid to tell the client the brutal and honest truth. The fact is, he’s hiring a real estate agent for her experience, not just to tell him what he wants to hear. Let’s be real… if he bought a house on Lakewood Ranch in the summer of 2005, he will NOT be able to sell it for what he paid for it. If you bought your Lakewood Ranch home for $450,000 in 2005, you should expect to sell it for approximately $350,000 in 2008. That’s the brutal, honest truth. A real estate agent who tells her otherwise is only telling her what she wants to hear.

7. Will your real estate agent reduce his commission? This is important! Most brokers will NOT allow their real estate agents to reduce their commission. And, even if they do, most real estate agents aren’t willing to. This is a big mistake on your part. A typical real estate commission has the seller pay 6% of the sales price (3% to the selling agent and 3% to the buying agent). However, there is absolutely no reason why YOUR agent (the sales agent) should not reduce your commission. Just think of the amount of money you can save if your real estate agent only charges you a 1.5% commission. You can literally save thousands of dollars. For example, a home in Lakewood Ranch that sells for $500,000 would typically have to pay $30,000 in commissions ($15,000 per agent). Now, if YOUR agent cuts their commission in half, you’ve just saved yourself $7,500! Again, most brokers will not allow their agents to do this, so you MUST ask. If they are not willing to do so, continue your search for another Lakewood Ranch real estate agent who is willing to lower your commission.