Finding homes before they are listed is an increasingly popular practice for real estate agents in a competitive and fast-paced market. Being the first to see a house, agents can offer their services before a property has been officially listed for sale.
Some agents will even offer the seller a contract for their services before they officially decide to put their home on the market. This is a great way to get sellers in the door and allows agents to build a relationship with the seller before competing with other agents. Many agents may even have buyers in mind for the property and can close on a quick sale. It’s one of the most effective ways to get ahead of your competition and find more clients.
However, finding the right home before it hits the market is no easy task. It can require a lot of time and effort, and there is not always a guarantee that you’ll find success. Whether you’re handling Siesta Key investment properties or Sarasota single-family homes, an expert real estate agent will have the skills to find them before they are listed.
Maintain connections and network
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One of a skilled real estate agent's most significant advantages is building and maintaining connections to access information. This can help them find the best homes before they are even listed on the Sarasota real estate market, opening up the opportunity to earn a higher commission and sell homes faster.
An abundance of information travels through word of mouth, and work—in this case, listings—comes from exceptional services and building relationships. Agents can do this by being flexible and approachable and building a reputation for being helpful. Agents can also work hard to build relationships with other professionals, such as mortgage lenders, developers, other agents, brokers, and surveyors, who are often critical to accessing inside information that can lead to homes that have not yet been listed.
When an agent sells a home or helps a client buy their dream home, the client typically tells their friends, family, and connections about their experiences. In this way, relationships are built to help an agent find leads for homes that have not been listed.
It is essential for agents to engage in social events and professional networking events that expand their connections and professional relationships. It is not enough to be good at buying or selling homes; real estate agents need to be multifaceted and build connections that can help themselves and their clients reach their goals.
Building and maintaining a network is hard work and requires agents to stay connected in the industry as a whole and with their past and current clients. With practice, it will become easy to always look for leads while engaging with the community and industry professionals.
Focus on a small region or community
One of the biggest problems that many real estate agents face when trying to find homes before they hit the market is the sheer volume of homes and neighborhoods in a city. Instead of trying to be the expert on every single community in the entire county, it is much more beneficial for agents to focus their attention on a handful of areas. This allows them to become experts in their specific area, and it also allows them to build relationships with owners, HOAs, other agents, and lenders in the same communities.
The best real estate agents in the business are the ones who are able to identify hot neighborhoods and homes before the rest of the market does. Starting small and focusing on a handful of communities and homes can also help with networking. Once an agent feels comfortable and confident with their connections in an area, they can start to expand their tactics.
Host buying seminars and informational sessions
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It may seem counterintuitive since you are looking for homes to sell, but where there’s a buyer, there is usually a home that also needs to be sold. Many buyers think about buying before they list their homes, so networking with buyers is a great way to find potential homes for sale.
Hosting seminars or informational sessions in your target communities is a great way to expand your network and find homes for sale that have not been listed. Nowadays, with technological advances, these sessions can be in-person or hosted virtually. It’s a great way to get in front of many people and find homes to sell and clients looking to purchase real estate. People are always looking for quality information about real estate and local markets, and hosting buying seminars or informational programming is a way to market your services and find homes.
Invite the whole neighborhood to open houses
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Open houses are a great way to showcase a home to potential buyers. They allow you to show off the space and get feedback from potential buyers. In addition, open houses are also a perfect way to make neighborhood connections and find homes that have not been listed. Neighbors may not want to buy the home you’re showing, but they probably know someone else in the neighborhood thinking of selling their home.
Open houses are another networking tool you can utilize to sell the home you are showing and look for future clients. Some neighbors may be considering selling in the next six to 12 months, so you can get a jump on the property by staying in contact with people you meet at open houses. Chances are, they will remember your services and come to you before listing.
Jackie Eberley and Betsy de Manio are the professionals you want on your side.
de Manio Eberley Group specializes in luxury properties in Sarasota and surrounding areas. They have years of experience in Sarasota luxury homes and are a top team with Coldwell Banker worldwide. Contact the de Manio Eberley Group
team today to learn more about how they can help you buy your dream property and sell your current home for top dollar.
*Header photo courtesy of Pexels
