Houses along Easton Road in Hellertown
When selling your home, selecting the right agent for the job is just as important as price and preparation. While technology has changed the face of the real estate world and vastly expanded coverage areas, it is still imperative to hire an agent local to your market. When interviewing agents, be sure to ask the following questions:
- Which MLS system will you list my home in? Although there are talks of expansion, each MLS system is currently specific to smaller geographic locations. For instance, the Lehigh Valley is serviced primarily by the Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors. Most agents working in the Hellertown-Lower Saucon market consider this to be the cutoff of their primary area. However, with Bucks County being just a short drive south, listings in the Hellertown-Lower Saucon market should also be advertised in the Trend MLS that services the upper part of Bucks County. Advertising in one and not the other may hinder the listing’s full exposure to brokers and agents who work right between the lines.
- Are you local and available for showings? Despite the growing reach of the internet and its advertising potential, yard signs are still a huge resource for potential buyers. If someone calls on a sign, is your agent local and available to get them scheduled in a timely manner? Or will they balk at a long commute?
- Will you review all of the sales comparisons in my local market’s MLS for the most accurate price? If an agent is not a member of the home’s local MLS, they will not see all of the sold and available comps, and details necessary to price the home accordingly. This could be a costly mistake.
- What is your local knowledge of the area? If an out-of-the-area buyer is looking, will the agent be able to adequately sell them on all that the Hellertown-Lower Saucon area has to offer? Are they familiar with the key landmarks, including parks, the rail trail and exceptional restaurants? Can they speak to the hometown amenities such as the Saucon Valley Farmers’ Market, community events and the pride of our sports programs from youth to the high school level? These are all key factors that help highlight why our HLS community is truly one of a kind!
