Once you’ve made the decision to sell your home, it’s time to find the right real estate agent for yourself, your home, and your neighborhood. The following questions will help you determine which realtor is the right fit for you.
- How long have you been selling real estate? Not only does the answer to this question give you an idea of how experienced a realtor is, but it will also give you insight into the level of customer service. Real estate is a commission-based business that is helped greatly by satisfied word of mouth as well as by repeat business. No agent will last long if they don’t do well with their customers.
- How many clients do you have at any given time? You want to make sure that your agent is in high demand, but also has time to give you, and your home, the attention it deserves. Do they have an assistant to handle a large volume of inventory? Or do they juggle a reasonable number of homes on their own?
- Have you sold homes in my neighborhood? This question can let you know whether the agent is familiar with your home, its approximate value, and whether they will know how to market it. If this is the first home in your neighborhood that they have listed or sold, that’s okay. Just make sure that they understand the benefits and have done their research.
- Are you a part of a real estate team? Some realtors prefer to work alone, while others find that teaming up can bring benefits such as more money for advertising and a wider net to cast with prospective buyers and sellers. If they do work for a team, ask what benefit that brings to you as their client.
- Can you tell me about your customer service? Ask how often you should expect to hear from them. Will there be an agent-only open house or a public open house? What advertising can you expect to see from them? Do they work with a professional photographer or a designer who can help you to stage your home? When will they let you know how a showing went after a prospective buyer tours your home? Will they give you feedback on the showing, good and bad? Knowing that your agent intends to help you and keep you informed can lessen the stress of selling and help to sell your home faster.
- Do you have references? This is an easy one and should be expected. Many agents will even have literature or a website with recommendations from past clients. Feel free to ask to speak to a few of them to get their take on why this realtor is a good fit for you.
- Do you have any questions for me? A good realtor will want to know about you and about your home. If they aren’t interested, they won’t be able to interest others in purchasing.