Selling a home can be a time consuming and stressful endeavor. For most people, it makes sense to hire a Realtor® to serve as your trustworthy guide throughout the process.
A Realtor® will coach you in getting ready, market your house, negotiate the best contract terms for you, and coordinate the escrow and closing. We typically recommend interviewing at least two agents before hiring someone to sell your home. To assist you in the interview process, here are some general questions that you may want to start with, which are also featured in our Market Ready Guide.
1. Why should I hire you? What makes you different?
What unique ideas does this agent have to help you sell or find the right home? What do they offer you that others don’t? Take note of whether this agent is asking enough questions to understand what you want and need.
2. Describe your marketing strategy.
Does the agent have a clear marketing plan for your house? You need to see marketing samples. What unique selling tools does the agent use that will help sell your home? What media does he or she use to effectively market your listings? Magazines? Radio? Internet? Ask the agent which websites your property will be marketed on: It should be at least 50.
3. How long does it usually take to sell your listings?
Any agent you interview should be able to provide you with this information. In a correcting market, this is critical. It should be statistically provable.
4. Do you offer a Guaranteed Buy Program?
Is the agent willing to purchase your house after a certain amount of time on the market, to ease your mind as you look for a new home?
5. Do you offer an in depth staging consultation as part of your fee?
An agent dedicated to selling your home will help you present it in the best possible light. Providing room-by-room advice on what to move out, what color to paint or what minor updates are necessary will increase the price of your home and decrease the time to sell. Spending a dollar to get two dollars in return makes sense!
6. Do you offer a single contact to look out for me throughout the sales process?
Does the agent provide regular updates? Is the agent readily available to answer questions that you might have, at any time? Are they with you all the way through the transaction or are you passed from one person to the next?
7. Do you have a reference list of clients?
Be sure to spot-call some of the names.
8. Does your broker control your advertising or do you?
If your agent is not in control of their own advertising, then your home will be competing for advertising space not only with this agent’s other listings, but also with the listings of every other agency in the brokerage.
9. How will you research my particular area?
An agent that is adept at researching schools, parks, and other amenities can sell the value of your location better than one who can’t.
10. Do you have experience selling homes in the price range of my property?
The agent should be familiar with how to market homes in your price bracket. If you have a $300,00 or a $3,000,000 home, you want to ensure that your agent has a marketing plan that will reach the right target of buyers.
The interview should be a two-way conversation. Be wary of agents who don’t ask questions and probe for your motivation. Your home is most likely one of your biggest investments. You have the right to be a little choosy about whom you hire to help sell it.
For other tips and advice on selling your home, download our free Market Ready Guide!
