Although you may know your land like the back of your hand, that familiarity doesn’t always result in effective marketing or negotiation once you’ve decided to sell it to new stewards.
That’s the value an experienced land broker adds to your knowledge of every nook and cranny on the parcel. Their expertise in navigating property sales makes land pros invaluable for marketing your acreage to ideal buyers, closing deals with optimal returns on shorter timelines, and minimizing any stress throughout the process.
Read on for five advantages of selling land with a real estate agent, and discover how Land.com can help.
1. Specialized Knowledge in Local Land Markets
Local real estate agents always have their eyes and ears on the ground. In other words, they know the local land market better than anyone else.
With their insider knowledge, your property broker will:
- Determine the best listing price
- Appeal to buyer preferences
- Comply with laws and restrictions
- Assess future development
You might find the necessary selling systems and red tape unfamiliar to you as a landowner. However, the professional you partner with should easily navigate them and provide insights along the way. If you haven’t found that next-level guidance yet—or want to confirm your broker’s credentials and experience—try a quick search through our network of land pros.
2. Skilled Negotiation for Optimal Sale Terms
For all the navigational help professional land brokers offer, some people may still find themselves reluctant to partner with one over expected commission fees. However, that 5% commission (on average) becomes negligible when you close on a deal with much higher returns.1 And the numbers speak for themselves: in 2023, properties sold with an agent’s assistance tended to sell for nearly $100,000 more.2
The experience that agents accumulate over their careers makes them more knowledgeable with every sale, and they will use these skills to sell your land at an optimal price. During a sale, your land pro will:
- Leverage local land market – Insider information helps set a fair price while still making you a profit (and earning their commission).
- Manage multiple offers – Negotiating with multiple potential buyers at a time and using their skills to secure bids helps ensure there’s always an interested party. Plus, they’ll handle the hassle of follow-ups and back-and-forth communication for you.
- Encourage healthy competition – Competing offers between potential buyers can pay off by driving up the sale price.
Even if you feel prepared to follow these steps, there is another crucial advantage that distinguishes professionals: negotiation experience.
Negotiation Etiquette
Negotiating an offer is not only about the what, but the how. Agent etiquette goes a long way in both attracting and securing buyers.
What do we mean by negotiation etiquette? The best land pros make sure to do the following:
- Build rapport and trust with clients
- Focus on positives rather than negatives (win-win)
- Respond with firmness yet flexibility
- Prepare a Plan B
Overall, selling land with professional assistance helps maximize the profit on your sale.
3. Comprehensive Marketing Strategies Tailored to Your Land
Is your for-sale property undeveloped? Does it contain a house or other structures? Regardless of what features and additional assets might be packaged with your land in the sale, your agent will employ various marketing strategies that they customize to maximize the draw of each unique plot.
While you surely recall what made you fall in love with a certain property or the memories built on it over time, buyers won’t always share that same rosy-eyed impression. At least, not at first. However, agents know the market and how to showcase your property in its best light to the broadest audience— highlighting factors like soil quality, local wildlife, natural water sources, existing structures, and more to provide a holistic vision of the property and paint a picture of its potential.
Plus, agents have access to a wealth of marketing platforms and resources to advertise your listing, including:
- Online real estate platforms
- Social media
- Print ads (newspapers, magazines)
- Brokerage website or newsletter
- Mailers and flyers
- Signage
Reaching a wider audience boosts your chances of finding the perfect buyer. And that’s where Land.com agents come in since they are experts at promoting listings.
4. Real Estate Agent Assistance Reclaims Your Time
Selling land yourself may seem straightforward at the outset, but the process can quickly become complicated and time-consuming. From returning phone calls to filing regulatory forms, there are lots of responsibilities to attend to. Before you know it, selling your land will turn into a part-time job.
Retaining all the profits from your sale always sounds appealing. But do some quick math and consider whether you really benefit.
As mentioned, agent-assisted listings can bump up your sale price by roughly $100,000 on average. Depending on how much you value your time, the hours you dedicate toward selling a parcel might cost more than the commission would.
If becoming a real estate broker was never part of your career goals, why change that now?
5. Overall Peace of Mind: Expert Support and Reduced Stress
Throughout the selling process, you’ll run into anything from major roadblocks to minor doubts. That’s normal for every property seller. Without professional guidance, who will you turn to for help or advice?
Real estate agents know the ins and outs of selling land and will quickly resolve issues that may arise or leave you second-guessing the smallest details. They provide the peace of mind to sell your land with ease—and sellers often find that closing a deal stress-free is invaluable.
Find Expert Agents on Land.com
If you’re in need of an agent, look no further than Land.com, the nation’s leading online marketplace for buying and selling rural real estate. Search our network of verified agents to find a Land Pro in your area. Our agents can advertise your property across three Land.com websites, a network that receives over 12 million monthly visits.
Are you an agent? List your property today, or contact our team to become a signature seller.
Sources:
- Bankrate. How do real estate agent fees and commissions work? https://www.bankrate.com/real-estate/realtor-fees/
- National Association of Realtors. 2023 Profile of Home Buyers & Sellers. https://www.nar.realtor/sites/default/files/documents/2023-profile-of-home-buyers-and-sellers-highlights-11-13-2023.pdf.