You hear more and more the term Full Service batted around, almost to the point where it takes on a generic connotation. Nothing could be further from the truth. And full service is not just limited to advertising or negotiating your contract.

 

Real full service agents have spent  thousands of dollars and thousands of hours, during the course of their career, becoming expert and competent in their field. Representing you is serious business and one real full service agents do not take lightly.

Many agents go far beyond the minimum requirements of education by obtaining advance degrees or designations to prepare themselves even more thoroughly for their clients. Designations like CRS, CRB.

When you are making a major decision to buy or sell, you are going to be involved in legal binding contracts that could cost, or save, you tens of thousands of dollars. You need to know the person in your corner is up to the task. It's like the old adage; "Do you want to hire a lawyer, or do you want to hire a good lawyer?"

Since the beginning of real estate time, there have been 4 factors, and 4 factors only that affect the sale or purchase of a home. Price, preparation and presentation and the agent.

Sellers never want to leave money on the table, and buyers always want to get a deal. That's never changed, and never will. That's why pricing your home is so critical. You must set a price to bring you maximum return on your property, but still not make it unsaleable to where the buyers will choose another over yours. Homes listed by full service agents and companies will sell for more than those that are listed with flat fee or discount companies. Because the full service agent is better trained and better prepared to negotiate aggressively on your behalf and price your home correctly to bring you maximum return.

Full service real estate agents are more likely to preview the market, are aware of spikes and dips, know the inventory and competition, track what is selling and what is not, and can pass this expertise on to their clients. Because of this expertise they know how to price homes for maximum return.

Properly preparing your home for the market could return you thousands and thousands of dollars. It can even mean the difference between a sale and no sale. Full service agents have the experience to know what to correct and what does not need to be addressed. It doesn't do you any good to spend money on something that is not going to increase the price or marketability of your home. Conversely, spending a few dollars on something that might return hundreds or thousands when the offer comes in, is something of great value for you to know.

Buyers have choices. Good listing agents know this and can help you present your home for maximum appeal. Don't underestimate the power of staging your home for example. And today, many full service agents hold ASP (Accredited Staging Professional) designations. Another example of the meaning of full service. A properly presented home will give you the optimum opportunity for the buyers to choose yours over another. Your full service agent can help you with this.

All agents enter your home in the local MLS, which automatically adds you to many additional websites. But it takes more than internet or MLS exposure to sell homes today. It takes agent networking. The top listing agents calling or communicating with the top buyer agents. It takes open houses, broker opens, newspaper and magazine advertising. Radio or TV in some cases. The more exposure your home receives, the greater your chances for success. Full service agents market your home in more mediums than just the internet. It's expensive, but it's necessary and most important of all, it's the right thing to do.

Full service agents have the required skill, knowledge, experience and expertise to "represent" you properly. To give you the counsel and advice you need to help you make decisions. To stand by your side all the way to closing. Full service agents never abandon you after the listing or contract is signed. Full service agents are proud of their profession, take pride in their ability to help their clients, and spend the time and money necessary to become expert at their profession.

Full service agents work at their profession full time. That means they have the time to spend on honing their negotiating skills to aggressively represent you in the transaction. Anyone can write a contract, but  experienced, knowledgeable agents, know them word for word, understand them word for word, and know how to structure and negotiate them on your behalf.

Full service agents will have a comprehensive marketing plan, and a marketing budget for your listing, and want to be held accountable to perform on these commitments. As I said earlier, the 4th element to success is the company/agent you hire. The more committed they are to your success, the greater your chances for success.

 

While there are definitely buyers and sellers out there that look only at the cost factor, if you are looking for full and complete service from start to finish, that will aggressively market and negotiate your property, that is committed to bring you top value or get you the best deal, and that will "represent" you and your best interests at all times, then hire a full service agent.