DON'T SIGN ANYTHING

THREE BASIC RULES FOR SELLING (By Neil Jenman – Australia’s best known consumer advocate on Real Estate matters)

Sellers are bosses whereas agents are employees suggests Neil Jenman. Here is some of the advice he offers homesellers.

“If every seller in Australia follows three rules, then many (if not all!) of them will be more secure and more in control of their sale.

This is not a fairytale, but something that every seller can follow with ease. When signing with an agency to sell a property, make sure the agent agrees to the three rules that cannot be negotiated.

First Rule:   No sale, then no money is owing to the agency for whatever reason.

Second Rule:   A sale at LESS than the price range quoted by the agent, then no commission is paid.

Third Rule:   A maximum time period of 60 days on the agent’s selling agreement. Subject to satisfactory performance, the agreement can be renewed, if the seller so decides!

If the agent cannot facilitate a sale under these conditions then he/she does NOT get the business. Simple as that.

These minimum standards ensure that agents lift their performance, otherwise they are out of people’s homes and out of business and more importantly, sellers are not stuck for months with agents they do not like.

Agents who cannot operate under these simple conditions do not deserve to have the opportunity to even enter homes. Sellers should realise that they are the bosses and the agents are the employees. The boss selects the employees and the boss sets the rules.

Remember, it’s your home, you are the boss, and if you do hire an agent, you set the terms of employment. As long as you stand firm and you insist that any agent you choose must give you a guarantee then your experience should be as hassle-free as it can be.

Be warned however, any agent who will not agree to give you the Homeseller’s Protection Guarantee is an agent you should avoid.

If you can’t find such an agent, then sell your home yourself. After all, you can place an ad in a paper and sit at an open house.”

Neil Jenman

NOTE Neil’s advice is well worth heeding. The Homeseller's Protection Guarantee is available to all sellers regardless of the agent they choose. Copies are available from our office or can be downloaded from www.jenman.com.au or obtained by phoning 02 65846400.