10 Questions to Ask Your Realtor about Selling a House
-
Are
you
a
full-time
professional
real
estate
agent?
How
long
have
you
worked
full
time
in
real
estate?
How
long
have
you
been
representing
buyers?
What
professional
designations
do
you
have?
Knowing whether or not your agent practices full time can help you determine potential scheduling conflicts and his or her commitment to your transaction. As with any profession, the number of years a person has been in the business does not necessarily reflect the level of service you can expect, but it is a good starting point for your discussion. The same issue can apply to professional designations. -
Do
you
have
a
personal
assistant,
team
or
staff
to
handle
different
parts
of
the
purchase?
What
are
their
names
and
how
will
each
of
them
help
me
in
my
transaction?
How
do
I
communicate
with
them?
It is not uncommon for agents who sell a lot of houses to hire people to work with them. As their businesses grow, they must be able to deliver the same or higher quality service to more people.
You may want to know who on the team will take part in your transaction, and what role each person will play. You may even want to meet the other team members before you decide to work with the team. If you have a question about fees on your closing statement, who would handle that? Who will show up to your closing? -
Do
you
have
a
Website
that
will
list
my
home?
Can
I
have
your
URL
address?
Who
responds
to
emails
and
how
quickly?
What's
your
email
address?
Many buyers prefer to search online for homes because it's available 24 hours a day and can be done at home. So you want to make sure your home is listed online, either on the agent's Website or on their company's site. By searching your agent's Website you will get a clear picture of how much information is available online. -
How
will
you
keep
in
contact
with
me
during
the
selling
process,
and
how
often?
Some agents may email, fax or call you daily to tell you that visitors have toured your home, while others will keep in touch weekly. Asking this question can help you to reconcile your needs with your agent's systems. -
What
do
you
do
that
other
agents
don't
that
ensures
I'm
getting
top
dollar
for
my
home?
What
is
your
average
market
time
versus
other
agents'
average
market
time?
Marketing skills are learned, and sometimes a real estate professional's unique method of research and delivery make the difference between whether or not a home sells quickly. For example, an agent might research the demographics of your neighborhood and present you a target market list for direct marketing purposes. -
Will
you
give
me
names
of
past
clients?
Interviewing an agent can be similar to interviewing someone to work in your office. Contacting references can be a reliable way for you to understand how he or she works, and whether or not this style is compatible with your own. -
Do
you
have
a
performance
guarantee?
If
I
am
not
satisfied
with
your
performance,
can
I
terminate
our
listing
agreement?
In the heavily regulated world of real estate, it can be difficult for an agent to offer a performance guarantee. If your agent does not have a guarantee, it does not mean they are not committed to high standards. Typically, he or she will verbally outline what you can expect from their performance. Keller Williams? Realty understands the importance of win-win business relationships: the agent does not benefit if the client does not also benefit. -
How
will
you
get
paid?
How
are
your
fees
structured?
May
I
have
that
in
writing?
In many areas, the seller pays all agent commissions. Sometimes, agents will have other small fees, such as administrative or special service fees, that are charged to clients, regardless of whether they are buying or selling. Be aware of the big picture before you sign any agreements. Ask for an estimate of costs from any agent you contemplate employing. -
How
would
you
develop
pricing
strategies
for
our
home?
Although location and condition affect the selling process, price is the primary factor in determining if a home sells quickly, or at all. Access to current property information is essential, and sometimes a pre-appraisal will help. Ask your agent how they created the market analysis, and whether your agent included For Sale by Owner homes, foreclosed homes and bank-owned sales in that list. -
What
will
you
do
to
sell
my
home?
Who
determines
where
and
when
my
home
is
marketed/
promoted?
Who
pays
for
your
advertising?
Ask your real estate agent to present to you a clear plan of how marketing and advertising dollars will be spent. If there are other forms of marketing available but not specified in the plan ask who pays for those. Request samples or case studies of the types of marketing strategies that your agent proposes (such as Internet Websites, print magazines, open houses, and local publications).
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