Selling a home is an involved process requiring time as well as knowledge of the legal and financial intricacies of real estate transactions. The right real estate agent can help you navigate the paperwork, list and show your home to its best advantage, and gain the most value from the sale.
Investing the time up front to ask some important questions will help you connect with a real estate agent who has the expertise and resources to meet your needs. Here’s a list of the top seven questions to ask a real estate agent before signing with them:
1. What’s your experience?
Knowing how long someone has been working as a real estate agent gives you insight not only into their level of experience, but oftentimes into their level of service. Because real estate agents work on commission, longevity of service can be an indication of quality. This is not to say that newer real estate agents can’t also do a great job, but that experience should be one factor that you consider in choosing the right real estate agent for you.
2. What’s your expertise?
It’s important to work with a real estate agent who knows your market, understands the unique characteristics of your community and district, and has successfully sold homes in your price range. Beyond that, make sure that the real estate agent you choose is also knowledgeable about any factors specific to your situation—for example, if you are selling a fixer upper or have particular terms you want met in the sale of your home.
3. What are your credentials?
Of course, you want to make sure that you are working with a licensed real estate agent, but you also want to make sure you are working with someone who has a track record of quality service. Check out online ratings, client testimonials, and referrals before signing with any real estate agent.
4. What’s your plan for marketing my home?
You want to know that the person you are entrusting with the sale of your home has a well thought out strategy for listing the house, attracting prospective buyers, showing the property, and securing the best possible sale for you.
5. What will it be like to work with you?
When it comes to selling your home, you want a real estate agent you can count on to be responsive and easy to work with. Ask in advance if he or she is a full or part-time agent, and how many other clients they are currently working with. This will help you choose someone who has the necessary time to do their best work for you, rather than letting you get lost in the shuffle of an overly booked client list. You’ll also want to ask how the real estate agent will be communicating with you, if they are a part of a team, and if they will be working with you directly.
6. What are your results?
There are some important statistics that can help you understand how effective your real estate agent is on average. Ask the agent you are considering to tell you their list-to-price ratio as well the average days on market for the homes they sell.
7. What are your questions for me?
Selling your home is not only a major financial event, but usually a major event for you and your family on an emotional and social level. You may be leaving a home with many memories, moving to a new community, or looking for a place to meet the needs of a growing family. To have the best possible experience and outcome with your real estate agent, he or she should care not just about how much you want to get for your home, but about what is important to you as a homeowner.
Using these questions as a guideline for a conversation with a prospective real estate agent can help you find the best professional to guide you through the sale of your home.
