How Top Agents Are Beating Out the Competition 

Today’s real estate market is becoming more and more competitive for agents. In 2022, there were 1,580,971 total members of the National Association of REALTORS®. Not only has this number been increasing each year since 2012, but also it is the highest number of members on record dating all the way back to 1908.¹ Not to mention the fact that the blazing hot market of the pandemic is now gone. As a result, the phone just isn’t ringing like it was a year or two ago. Both of these factors coupled with the low housing inventory in 2023 mean many real estate agents are struggling to secure those limited listings. The key is getting the homeowners to choose you over any other agent. But just how do you go about doing this? Why should those homeowners choose you over anyone else?

During a tough market, some top real estate agents rely on name recognition, branding, marketing, or their large sphere of influence to get listings. If you don’t have these resources to fall back on or a lot of money to throw around, it may seem harder to compete. Especially if you are just getting started in the real estate industry, you may need a competitive edge to help you stand out and grow your business. Trying to beat out a veteran agent with an established business is a tall order. Fortunately, there is another way to capture the attention of homeowners and have them choose you to sell their house. 

A Common Dilemma for Agents 

Sellers typically want to get their homes off the market as quickly as possible while still making the most money they can on the sale. Without the right tools, it can be a tough order to deliver on. If you want to beat out the other real estate agents vying for these same listings, you need to be able to make these dreams a reality for these homeowners without adding a lot of stress or hassle to their plates.   

You know that most listings are not ready to fly off the market for top dollar the way they are. Some basic pre-sale home improvements can often secure a fast and high-paying sale for these homeowners. Unfortunately, most sellers don’t want to put in that time, money, and effort to complete these projects. They do not wait to wait months for the finished product. They do not have the cash upfront to pay for the work. They do not want to deal with the hassle that home improvement projects often require.

To get the homeowners to choose you to sell their home, you need to get them enthusiastically on board with the idea of pre-sale updates. You need to not only show them the possibilities that come with these home improvement projects but also an easier way to get to that finished product. If you can’t solve this problem, the ease of selling the home as-is will often outweigh the promise of a higher profit, and the homeowner will go with someone else to list their house. 

Selling the Solution (& Yourself) to Sellers 

While homeowners may not be chomping at the bit to make updates to a house they are about to sell, do not give up hope. We found that 72% of homeowners said they chose real estate agents who came to the listing presentation with options. Also, 77% of homeowners said they would choose an agent who offered a pay-at-closing solution for home improvement projects.²   

If you don’t have this solution ready in your back pocket to offer the sellers at the listing appointment, it is time to start. If you wait any longer to get on board, you could easily get left behind in this industry. At Curbio, we are a pay-at-closing general contractor for pre-listing updates. In essence, we are another option you can present to clients during listing appointments. As a pay-at-closing solution for pre-sale updates, you can also reassure your clients that they do not need to worry about upfront costs. Payment is due when the home sells or within 12 months of signing the contract if the home doesn’t sell. The proof is in the pudding. According to our survey, 68% of real estate agents said they won a listing by pitching Curbio. If you haven’t partnered with us before, you might have been on the flip side of this coin and lost a listing to an agent who is partnering with us.

Take the first step to a brighter and more secure future in the real estate industry. Get started today with a free home improvement estimate and see what we might be able to do for you.

Sources: 

1. National Association of REALTORS® (2022). Membership Historic Report 
2. Curbio (2022). Preparing to Sell: 2022 Home Improvement Report