Selling your home is one of the most important decisions you’ll ever make… as often your biggest investment is at stake. You need a real estate agent who is going to look out for your best interests. This is not a job for your mother’s brother’s best friend or a random agent chosen from the internet.
If you want the strongest representation at the negotiation table, here are six questions to ask a real estate agent before you make a choice:
1. “How long have you been a real estate agent, and is it your full-time job?”
You need – deserve – an agent with a consistent record of accomplishment. An agent who dabbles in real estate but works a second part time job is not an agent who is immersed enough in the business to work all the angles to sell your home quick and at top dollar. Would you trust a part-time brain surgeon? No.
2. “What specific marketing systems will you use to sell my home and can you please spell that out in detail?”
You don’t want an agent who is just going to put up a “For Sale” sign in your yard and hope for a buyer. You need an agent with an aggressive approach to marketing. This includes print marketing (such as ads in real estate magazines and beautiful house flyers) as well as online marketing (listings syndicated across the internet), agent to agent marketing. An agent who knows what they are doing should have no trouble showing you their plan, and commit to doing it all.
3. “Can I take a look at your website?”
Agents who have not taken the time to develop their own website with powerful buyer search tools may not fully grasp the power of the internet in enticing buyers to search for homes. According to the National Association of REALTORS® 41% of homebuyers in 2012 first searched for their home online and 90% of buyers used the internet in their home search. 90%! Those numbers indicate the internet is hugely important in the home buying process, and those agents who do not make an effort to draw in potential homebuyers may be missing an opportunity.
4. “How will you determine the price of my home?”
Every agent is going to say that they perform an in-depth CMA. But an agent worth their salt will take it a step beyond. Agents should have at least a few additional pricing tools they use on a consistent basis to “double check” their price. If an agent doesn’t have any other pricing tools, then they may not be doing additional pricing research, which could either cause you to leave money on the table or your home to linger on the market for weeks and months on end.
5. “How will you keep me informed?”
This is a great question because you’ll be surprised at how many agents don’t have a good answer for it. The correct answer is, “How do you want to be kept informed?” A good agent communicates with you based on your preferences, not theirs.
6. “Could you give me the names and phone numbers of your three most recent clients?”
Not the three best clients. The three most recent clients. This provides a better picture of what it’s like to work with this agent. A raving testimonial from three years ago doesn’t reflect how good this agent is today.
Ask most agents these questions and you will be shocked at how many you disqualify because they don’t have the answers which are the best match to your particular selling needs.
