The Interview
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an Exclusive Right to Sell Agreement?
An Exclusive Right to Sell Agreement is a contract between a home seller and a Realtor, granting the agent the exclusive right to market and sell the property. This agreement ensures that the agent will work diligently to sell your home.
Why should I sign an Exclusive Right to Sell Agreement?
Signing this agreement provides assurance that your Realtor will prioritize the sale of your property, utilizing their expertise in marketing, negotiating, and managing the entire selling process.
How is my Realtor compensated in an Exclusive Right to Sell Agreement?
The Realtor’s commission is usually a percentage of the sale price and is negotiated upfront. This fee is typically paid from the proceeds at closing. It’s important to discuss and agree upon the commission rate with your Realtor before signing the agreement.
Do I need to offer compensation to the buyer's agent?
Offering compensation to the buyer’s agent is common practice and can make your property more attractive to potential buyers. The specific amount is negotiable and will be discussed with your Realtor to determine the best strategy for selling your home.
What happens if I find a buyer on my own?
Typically, if you find a buyer on your own, the terms of the agreement still apply, and you may be responsible for paying the agreed-upon commission. It’s essential to clarify this aspect with your Realtor.
How long does an Exclusive Right to Sell Agreement last?
The duration of the agreement is specified in the contract and can vary. It usually lasts for several months but can be adjusted based on your needs and market conditions.
Can I negotiate the terms of the Exclusive Right to Sell Agreement?
Yes, many terms in the agreement are negotiable. You can discuss and modify aspects such as the duration of the agreement, the commission rate, and specific marketing strategies.
What is a protection period in the Exclusive Right to Sell Agreement?
A protection period is a time frame after the agreement expires during which the Realtor is still entitled to a commission if the property is sold to a buyer they procured. This protects the agent’s efforts and investment in marketing your home.
Can I work directly with the buyer's agent to sell my home?
While you can work directly with the buyer’s agent, remember that the buyer’s agent represents the buyer’s interests. This can lead to potential conflicts of interest and a lack of impartial advice. Having your own listing agent ensures that your interests are prioritized and you receive expert guidance throughout the transaction.
What is a subagent in a real estate transaction?
A subagent is a cooperating agent who shows your property to potential buyers but still represents your interests as the seller. This arrangement can increase your property’s exposure while ensuring your needs are prioritized throughout the transaction.
Home Sellers Guide
When You're Ready
Preparing The Home
Pre-listing Home Improvements
Services may include:
- Painting
- Electrical & plumbing repairs
- Roof repairs
- Pest control
- Landscaping
- Junk removal
- Cabinet refinishing
- Flooring updates
- Countertop replacements
- Backsplash installation
- Tile reglazing
- Wallpaper removal
- Repairs
- Wall removals and additions
- Cabinet installation
- New roof
- Kitchen remodels
- Bathroom remodels
- Basement/attic finishing
- Decks and fences
- Bathroom additions
- Electrical rerouting
- Flooring updates
- Flooring refinishing
- Deep cleaning
- Hardware swaps
- Staging
What's Your Home Worth?
Get a FREE comprehensive home report in minutes.Spreading the Word
Receiving & Negotiating Offers
Completing the Close
Key Terms
Assessment of the property’s market value, for the purpose
of obtaining a mortgage and performed by a licensed appraiser.
Value placed upon property for property tax purposes by the tax collector.
Expenses incidental to a sale of real estate, such as loan fees, appraisal fees, and title insurance.
The statement which lists the financial settlement between Buyer and Seller, and the costs each must pay.
Certain criteria that have to be met in order to finalize the sale.
The percentage of an individual’s monthly gross income relative to the amount of debt owed.
A good faith deposit the buyer makes with an offer to show that you are serious about buying the property. In exchange, the seller agrees to stop marketing the property.
The buyer reviews the house just before closing to make sure everything is in the same condition and that all home inspection items are fixed.
An expert conducts a formal review of the property to find visible issues that need to be repaired. Buyers typically make their offers contingent on an inspection, but sellers can conduct a pre-offer inspection to appeal to buyers. The buyer may choose to do additional inspections like radon and a sewer scope.
A background check on the property and the seller to ensure there are
no outstanding debts or claims upon the property.
Advanced approval from a bank or other lending institution for a home mortgage.
Potential buyers provide an overall financial picture and mortgage brokers provide an estimate of what level of loan you will likely be pre-approved for.
Insurance to protect the buyer and lender against losses arising from disputes over the ownership of a property.
A fee paid to the local government to officially report a sale of a home; usually paid by the buyer.
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Customer Reviews
Read what our awesome clients are saying!
Read what our awesome clients are saying!
Professional in every way, very knowledgeable of the current market, and great to work with. Would recommend his talent to help sell your home.
I’m extremely satisfied with the results of my collaboration with James. What sets James apart is his adept use of skills honed during his tenure at an advertising agency, which he effectively employs to showcase your home online. Through innovative techniques like video presentations, he showcased my property in such a compelling manner that it sold at a price exceeding the listing and without any physical visits, all within just two days! Without a doubt, I’ll be turning to James for any future endeavors.
James Bowerman was our realtor when we recently sold an investment property. We thought there were lots of issues but James was undaunted by the challenge. He knew who to target and how to market the property to maximize exposure and potential. He kept us informed and was very responsive throughout the process. His calm demeanor, knowledge and confidence carried us through a challenging time. We think very highly of him and would enthusiastically recommend him as a realtor for any residential or investment property.
Selling my home after residing there for 38 years was both exciting and emotional. James was so helpful in providing me with all the information I needed in order to prepare for the sale and to sell the house. He was patient with my need to have details repeated and re-explained along the way. Everything went smoothly! Thank you for a positive experience James.
We were lucky enough to be referred to James Bowerman by a friend in real estate who works outside of the area we were looking to buy in. Moving from out of state requires extra attention and James always answered all of our questions by text and email promptly and was extremely kind and gracious even when I had lotttts of questions. When the right house came along early in the process, he jumped right in and submitted our competitive offer and helped us set up all the necessary inspections & team members needed to complete the paperwork properly. We are so grateful to have met James and thank him and his team for working so closely with us throughout the process of buying a house. We are thrilled to be here!
James from the Real Creative Group gave us a top notch experience from beginning to end! He knows what it takes to sell a home and got the job done well beyond our expectations. James used clever and effective marketing strategies to get our home the attention that it deserved. He kept us well informed at all times and made our home buying AND selling experience hassle free! We had multiple offers over asking price within 1 weekend. Highly recommend James and his entire “go to team” if you are buying and especially selling a home.
Throughout our experience of selling our old home and buying the new one, James has been amazing. When he was needed, he was always there, following up immediately. I couldn’t recommend a better person for the job. Thanks James!
Our experience with James was truly exceptional. Thanks to his expert advice and impressive multi-media marketing strategy, we had multiple viewings scheduled for our first day on the market, multiple offers by that evening, and an above asking contract before night’s end. We could not have asked for more!
James is an amazing realtor. His professionalism and understanding of the real estate market were key to selling a home we had owned for 25 years and were very sentimental about. James was patient with us and always available to answer questions and help us understand the process. Thank you, James!
Our experience with James has been phenomenal. He has been there for us every step of the way, from any and all questions about selling our house, purchasing a new home, and helping find the perfect investment property. We highly recommend James for all of your real estate needs!
James was very thorough and communicative during this process. I had a specific budget and he quickly found a lot of homes, was quick to respond when I requested tours and pointed out things I didn’t know to look for such as termite damage. I highly recommend him as a realtor!
James was amazing to work with! As first time home buyers, we appreciated how patient he was in answering our questions and walking us through the home buying process. He helped us find the perfect house with everything we were looking for!
James is very professional and will ensure all your concerns are met. He talked me off the ledge several times when I was stressed about some aspect of selling and saved me from spending a lot of money on things that really weren’t necessary to get the home ready for sale. He kept me focused on the important items to make it attractive to buyers and the turn around time from listing to closing was incredibly fast and easy. I would HIGHLY recommend James and Compass for anyone looking to buy or sell.