Questions Every Seller Should Ask Realtors They Are Interviewing
When you are selling or buying a home it is critical to know the credentials of the Realtor you hire. This is one 
of the biggest emotional and financial decisions of your life, so make sure you hire the best agent you can to assist you. One of the ways to do that is to know what questions you need to ask. Most people think that all agents are the same, which is far from the truth. The average agent only sells 2-3 homes a year...sad but true, so take the time to find out who you are putting you faith in. Here are a few questions you need to ask, and if the Realtor you are talking to does not know the answers, or cannot show you proof, you might want to consider talking to other agents. I started my career in 1976, and was a top producing solo/single agent for the first 15 years. Thankfully 16 years ago I met my real estate trainer and coach Mike Ferry who taught me how to become much more efficient, give better service to my clients, sell a lot more homes (I went from selling 70 homes a year to 250 homes a year), and having a life too. When you think about it hiring a single/solo agent can be risky at best. Should the agent get sick, go on vacation, become involved showing homes to a relocation buyer, and the multitude of other things that a real estate transaction involves, you are left without an agent till the situation is resolved.
Don't get me wrong there are many great agents who still work as solo agents, but the good ones are very rare, stressed out, and overworked...I know I did it by myself for lots of years. I started a team long before it became vogue, or even talked about, before most consumers or Realtors for that 
matter had even considered the benefits to themselves and their clients. I know what it is like both ways, and hiring an agent that is supported by a great, professional team is the best way to go. When you hire Liz Carter & Team Realty to sell your home, or buy a home from, you get nine agents VS just one, so there is always someone there handling every aspect of your transaction up until closing and after. So here are the questions you need to ask:
Questions for sellers to ask real estate agents
1. How many years have you been an active Realtor
2. What is your list price to sales price ratio (how much can you get me of my asking price), please show me the statistics?
3. What are your average days on the market?
4. How many homes did you sell that you had listed?
5. How many homes did you actually sell last year, and may I have written verification of the homes your personally sold, not your company?
6. May I have a list of at least 50 past clients you represented with their contact information to verify your past performance, and client service testimonials?
7. Do you do any type of work in addition to Real Estate?
8. How many people do you contact each day and how many hours do you spend on the phone aggressively prospecting to find a buyer for your clients?
9. Do you have an 800 call capture number, which system is it, and what is the response time to buyer calls on your listing? Do you get address and phone numbers of potential buyers e-mailed to you in addition to the calls received from your 800 # service?
10. Do you have a written daily schedule, and may I see a copy of it?
11. Do you have a written specific marketing plan you can provide me?
12. What percentage of business did you receive from your web site?
13. Where is your web site placement? Do you have a professional web site that is hosting and maintained by a professional web site designer, and which one is it?
14. Do you have a team and are they licensed Realtor or unlicensed?
15. Is your team paid on an hourly basis or they paid on an incentive basis when my home sells in addition to any other payment?
16. How long has your team been in place, and number of years they have been with you?
17. Do you have a professional Real Estate coach to train you and your team with the skills necessary for today's market? Who is it, and what are their credentials?
18. What networking clubs, groups, and referrals companies are you involved with?
19. Who and how many people do you have to take care of your clients when you are sick, on vacation, on your days off, or otherwise not available?
20. Do you have any verification of how your peers (other Realtors) view you, and what is your reputation with the other Realtors in MLS?
21. How do you promote my home to the other top Realtors in MLS?
22. How do you pre-qualify buyers for my home, and what do you ask for if it is another Realtor who brings the buyer?
23. What percentage of buyers come from traditional advertising, open houses, and signs, Vs non-traditional methods like telephone prospecting for buyers for your clients?
My goal is to help you, so if you would like to know my opion on what the minimum standards are to the question please get in touch with me. It does not matter if you are buying, or selling a home in Katy, Sugar Land, the greater Houston area or in another part of the world were I don't actively work, I'll be glad to help you find the very best Realtor to help you. My web site is www.lizcarter.com, or call me at 281-391-SOLD (7653).
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