When you’re considering putting your house on the market, there are some questions you should ask a real estate agent before making the decision to hire them as your Realtor. These five questions will not only help you know and understand your agent, but they will also help create a dialogue that will help your agent understand you and your motivations to sell. Everyone is different and no two homes are the same, so talking with your agent and asking questions can help set the stage for a successful sale. And don’t forget, if your real estate agent isn’t asking you questions, you may want to think about hiring someone else.
The 5 Questions To Ask A Real Estate Agent
- How is the current housing market in the city and in my area and how will this impact me? Ok, maybe this is a bit sneaky, because it’s actually three questions in one, but they are all important and related. The national news may have top stories related to the housing market, but what may be a national trend may not hold true in your particular market at all. Even within the same city, trends for neighborhoods vary tremendously. Find an agent who can speak to those trends for your particular area. It’s this expertise that you will find invaluable when selling your home.
- What should I do to prepare my home for sale? Most agents are not professional stagers, but most good agents either have great contacts or have the experiences to support educated opinions about improving the show-readiness and marketability of your home. Often slight furniture repositioning, decluttering, and a few touch ups may be all that it takes. Other times more extensive projects or repairs may be recommended to increase the price you can list your home for.
- What specific things will you be doing to do to market my home? The answers you hear may vary, but what you’re looking for is someone with a plan. If an agent can readily speak to what he or she has in mind to promote your home, then they may already be ahead of the game. Real estate agents are in the business of sales and if they can’t tell you what their game plan is, how well do you think they are going to do when going to work for you?
- When can I expect to hear from you? Communication is a crucial part of the selling process. An agent who has your home listed won’t necessarily need to touch base with you every day unless something is happening, but you also don’t want to sign paperwork and never hear from them again. (Trust us, we’ve heard horror stories.) Once again, you may be looking for an agent who has already thought this through and has devised a strategy to meet your needs. Some people are naturally, and understandably, more nervous about the process of selling and need more frequent updates or reassurances. Other people find frequent contact more of a nuisance unless an offer is in hand. A great real estate agent will talk to you about your needs and expectations and work to create a plan that best suits you.
- Why are you in this business? Selling a home can be emotional, stressful, exciting, and rewarding – all at the same time. It is a large undertaking and when you hire an agent, you’re hiring an expert to guide you through the whole process with your finances on the line. You are looking to form a professional relationship with someone, so don’t be afraid to ask this kind of question to reveal the agent’s motivation, personality, history, and even work ethic. It’s not to say you have to pick someone with whom you will be the best of friends, but you do want to work with a real estate agent who you can feel comfortable communicating with honesty, whose advice you will trust, and who you know will work to be your advocate along the way.
Never be afraid to ask a real estate agent questions – the same applies to your lender, inspector, title company, insurance agent, surveyor…you name it. If someone doesn’t like you asking questions, there’s usually a reason for it and it’s not a good one. The better informed you are as a buyer or seller, the smoother the process will go.
