Choosing the right real estate agent can mean the difference between earning top dollar on your property investment and barely breaking even. Your agent will negotiate the price of your house and charge you a commission.
You deserve to feel confident that you’ve asked all the right questions before selecting the real estate agent who will sell your house.
Here are 10 essential questions you need to ask before choosing a realtor
1. How much experience do you have?
As simple as this sounds, many home sellers don’t ask this question!
Don’t assume an agent has the experience you’re looking for simply because they’re an agent.
2. How does your fee structure work?
An honest realtor will clearly outline the details so there are no surprises.
Beware of realtors offering rates that seem super low, as it may speak to their planned level of effort.
3. How will you advertise my listing?
A diverse marketing plan is key to selling a home.
Ask agents for current ads, not just in print but online as well. A competent realtor should have all the advertising bases covered.
4. Do you have support staff?
There’s a careful balance here.
While you don’t want to be handed off to your realtor’s assistant, you do want your realtor to have support staff in place so they can focus on the task at hand—selling your house.
5. Do you also help buyers find homes?
To avoid a potential conflict of interest, ask if your realtor will solely represent you, or if there’s a possibility he or she may also represent a potential buyer.
Know your real estate agent’s priority (yes, it should be you).
6. On average, how long does it take you to sell a house?
Any realtor worth your time will be only too happy to share their stats. Find out how many homes they’ve sold in the last year, and how long each sale took.
7. Will you help me stage my home?
A great realtor has a keen eye for decor.
Find one who can show you how to set the ideal stage, making your house attractive to potential buyers.
8. Is my neighbourhood growing or slowing down/declining?
Asking about your neighbourhood will tell you the agent’s level of experience, plus it gives insight into the current market trends in your area.
9. Can you give me a comparative market analysis (CMA) for my neighbourhood?
Quick on the heels of question #8, ask for a CMA, which lists current homes for sale and recent sales in your area.
This can help you compare your home to others on the market in your area.
10. Do you have references from (preferably three) clients?
Again, any realtor you want to work with will have up-to-date references from recent clients.
Zoocasa can help you find an agent to suit your individual needs. At Zoocasa, we do the homework for you. Each agent featured on our site has been pre-screened for experience, neighbourhood expertise and industry know-how. Find your agent today.
