“By listing my home with more agents, I’ll get maximum exposure for my property won’t I? The logic is simple, right?” Wrong.

 

OPEN LISTING your property can be highly detrimental to your chances of selling for the highest price in the shortest time.

 

You’re about to learn why.

 

One diligent, focused agent selling a so-called ‘exclusive listing’ will usually outperform the efforts of many agents working on an ‘open listing’. Now that may sound strange, however to fully understand why this is so, you need to put yourself in the shoes of your real estate agent.

 

An agent gains satisfaction from helping clients to sell their properties, quickly, to the right people, for a high price. Of course, selling property is also their source of income – their livelihood.

 

So in that context, let’s look at the effects of an open listing and an exclusive listing on your agents’ priorities. Bear in mind that the table you’re about to see isn’t by any means all about pleasing the agent. You’re the client and you’re entitled to demand that your agent always act in your best interests. You’ll see how an Exclusive Listing really is in your best interest!

 

Agent Has An Open Listing	Agent Has An Exclusive Listing
Your property is listed by several agencies and as such no preference is given to which agent sells it. No demonstration of loyalty to any of them; so there’s not as much ‘pressure’ on the agent to sell it.	Your agent is personally entrusted to be responsible for selling. You have demonstrated your faith in the agent - who in turn has more of a personal stake in selling it, than if it had been an Open Listing.
Selling properties is your livelihood as an agent. The open listing could by sold by another agent/ agency, immediately negating any hard work put in by the agent.	The agent takes complete ownership of the task of finding a suitable buyer for your property, in the knowledge that he or she will be rewarded for their efforts.
An inconsistent message about your home may be delivered to the marketplace – in advertising and communication with the public.	The agent presents a consistent, concentrated message to the public, no matter what form of marketing they use to promote your property. It’s a message you will be aware of and approve of; and your communication about it is with only one agent.
The agent is reluctant to create a tailor-made marketing campaign for a property he or she may not even sell while the other agents are simultaneously running their own campaigns for the same property.	You should expect a brilliant tailor-made marketing campaign, and even a property styling service in return for your demonstration of your commitment to the agent/agency.
Who takes responsibility for security issues? Open Homes? Pet issues? Reporting/Feedback? Any issues that may arise while your home is on the market? A buyer can go from agency to agency on the hunt for the worst negotiator!! (It can happen!)	The exclusive agent has complete responsibility for taking care of security issues upon inspections, for arranging Open Homes, taking care of all those issues that arise during a well coordinated marketing campaign. You will undoubtedly choose a strong negotiator as your agent. There’s never any uncertainty as to who’s in control.

 

As a real estate agent, I’ve experienced countless times where a vendor has come to  us after a dismal run with an Open Listing with other agencies.

They’ve instantly seen the dramatic difference a proactive agent makes to selling their property when we take control of the program.

You see, as a seller, it really is much less draining when you have an exclusive agent  working aggressively on your behalf.
 

• You’ll be guaranteed that the exclusive agent will put in maximum effort to selling your home – no sleepless nights worrying who’s doing what.

• Anything you need to discuss during the campaign? One phone call is all it takes to get your answers.

• The same story is getting out about your home to the public.

• You’ll have a strong negotiator – one you’ve personally selected, rather than a lot of people you may never have even met.

 

Experience has proven that an exclusive or auction listing – with a carefully chosen agent – is your best chance of obtaining the highest possible price in the fastest possible time. It’s news too good to ignore.

 

The Key:

Only about 20% of open listed properties sell - compared to 80%+ for exclusively or auction listed properties. The statistics speak for themselves.

Your property is listed by several agencies and as such no preference is given to which agent sells it. No demonstration of loyalty to any of them; so there’s not as much ‘pressure’ on the agent to sell it.   Your agent is personally entrusted to be responsible for selling. You have demonstrated your faith in the agent - who in turn has more of a personal stake in selling it, than if it had been an Open Listing.

Selling properties is your livelihood as an agent. The open listing could by sold by another agent/ agency, immediately negating any hard work put in by the agent.

The agent takes complete ownership of the task of finding a suitable buyer for your property, in the knowledge that he or she will be rewarded for their efforts.