Before you sell your home, there are a few things that you need to go over with your real estate agent. Selling a home is not an easy task, so it is important to make sure that you have a competent real estate agent, who is familiar with the area, and who has a good plan for marketing and selling your home. Here are 8 questions to ask your real estate agent before you list your home for sale.
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Why should I list my home with you? The real estate market these days is much different than it was even 10 years ago, so it’s important to make sure that your real estate agent is competent, understands the market, and knows how to sell a home in today’s world.
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What is your company’s track record and reputation in the marketplace? Some of this research you can do online, but it is very important to figure out what their record is for selling homes that are comparable to yours in your area. This is a very specific piece of information that you will need to talk to an agent about. Basically, you want to find out whether or not they will be able to sell your home for a fair price.
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What are your marketing plans for my home? Figure out where your agent will be listing your home for sale. Top real estate listing websites such as Trulia, Zillow, and RealBird are almost a must for successful listings. Additionally, your home should be marketed by a “for sale” sign in your yard as well as in print, such as in local newspapers.
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On average, when your listings sell, how close is the selling price to the asking price? Again, this is specific information that you will have to get from the agent. Ask how often their homes have to undergo a price reduction before selling, and whether or not previous clients have been happy with the price their home sold for.
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On average, how long does it take for your listings to sell? You want to make sure that your agent can sell your home in a timely manner, or by a certain deadline if you have one (for work purposes, etc.)
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How many buyers are you currently working with? Typically, agents who work with buyers will have a better chance of selling your home quickly, but you want to make sure that the agent isn’t overloaded with too many clients.
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Do you have a reference list of clients I could contact? It is important that your agent provides you with a reference list so that you can talk to previous clients and get a good idea of what working with this agent will be like.
- What happens if I’m not happy with the job you are doing to get my home sold? If, for some reason, you are unhappy with the real estate agent’s attempts to sell your home, what are your contractual obligations to him or her?
Asking these questions will help you to figure out what to expect from your agent and help your agent learn what you expect from them. Interviewing your agent in advance will help avoid issues in the long run and make sure your experience is a great one!
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