Homeowners should detail the minimum level of service they expect from their agent before they’re hired.

Here are some of the most effective services that clients should require their agents to provide. Most homeowners are not aware of what duties a real estate agent performs so it’s really easy for new agents to miss important pieces or lazy real estate agents to get away with sub-standard performance. That’s why it’s important to let the agent know what you expect before you hire them and sign an agreement that you can terminate the contract if the agent doesn’t provide these service standards. Here are 11 of the services you should demand from your agent.

11 Services Good Agents Should Provide Their Clients

An agent should provide their clients with these services:

1. Market evaluation: Prior to listing the property for sale, the agent should review comparable sales and active competition with the seller as well as current market conditions.  The agent and seller should agree on the best price to market the property based on the property condition and market demand. 

2. Listing Marketing Plan:  that lists of all media exposure where their home is featured on the Internet, signage, print materials and any other media outlet.

3. Communication and availability: An agent should explain their working hours and the best way to contact them.  Full-time professionals keep schedules. If an agent works with a real estate team, they should introduce the team members the client will be working with and provide those member’s contact info (phone numbers, cell phone numbers, email addresses, etc.) along with a brief description of the functions they will be handling for the client. (On-call 24/7 is an over-promise. Be leary of this promise.)

4. Paperwork: Review all paperwork that is required to complete the transaction from listing to closing.

5. Professional Home Presentation: Take professional photographs of the house, submit the best pictures to MLS, and create compelling listing descriptions that showcase the home’s most prominent features.

6. Showing Schedule: Use a Centralized Showing Service (CSS) to receive automated showing reports (in Minnesota, we use ShowingTime).

7. Lockbox: Only use a secure real estate lockbox that limits access to only agents and appraisers, such as a SUPRA iBox that requires a SUPRA eKey to open. (Unless seller wants an easy-access code box.)

8. Market Watch: Weekly reports showing sales activity and price changes in their neighborhood. Automated MLS Emails are acceptable. Continuously monitor the listing’s price competitiveness and suggest timely adjustments when necessary.

9. Reporting: Buyer interest and/or hit reports showing client interest in the home including a count of inquiries and showings, including feedback.

10. Follow Up: Contact all agents with buyers that showed interest in the home to encourage a sale.

11.  Communication: Weekly update/discussion with the client to discuss what’s working and what’s not, and any changes of strategy that may be needed.

There are some additional optional services that may be relevant in your area or the current market.

Open Houses: Most agents are taught to use open houses to generate new business - not sell the house. There is also some risk to the seller if the agent has a flood of visitors left wandering the house unattended. 

Flyers: While flyers can be a great way to make a memorable impression, they can also cause a headache. Weather can be problematic with flyers getting wet or blown about. Vandals (and kids) may strew the flyers about causing a mess in front of the house. An empty flyer box can be frustrating to a potential buyer that stop and find nothing. Ask your agent about other options. Flyers on a table inside the house for serious buyers are the best bet.

Enforcing Agent Performance Levels

The minute your agent strays off course, make them aware of your disappointment. Agents are human too and sometimes there is a good explanation. If it keeps happening, don’t hesitate to terminate their listing agreement.

If your agent isn’t performing to your standards, our free service will help connect you to an agent that serves your needs.

If you are buying or selling a house and are looking to hire a successful real estate agent to help you through the process, look for a Certified Residential Specialist (CRS). A CRS is a REALTOR® who has earned certification from the Council of Residential Specialists by completing advanced training and by meeting significant experience requirements.