5 Critical Questions Every Home Seller Should Ask Their Agent
Good advice for both sellers and agents alike. Appreciate the commentary on printed ads. Have noticed the same results as well. Well said, thanks Bryan.
As a home seller, you're relying on your agent to do a quality job of marketing your property. That what you hired them for! You've probably read a lot of advice online about what to ask an agent when you interview them. That long list of questions included a lot of details the agent had great answers for. Well, now you need the questions to ask AFTER you list the property. If you ask these questions, you'll be making sure the job being done is what you expected.
1) May I see the photos you used on the MLS?
This is a good one because you need to know if the pictures show your home in the best light. My brokerage only does professional photography so the photos always look good. On some homes, that many not be appropriate. However, keep an eye out for:
- date stamps
- bad lighting
- dark photos
- messy staging
2) May I see what you wrote about my home?
In all fairness, not everyone is a good writer. Some agents are better than others. What your agent writes about your home will reflect heavily on how the public sees it. You should look at what has been written and give feedback. Make sure it meets the standard of quality you expect. If it's not up to your standards, rewrite it.
3) Where are you marketing my home?
Online is the most valuable place to advertise a property and it's also the most cost effective. Some agents are better than others and you'll want to make sure you get the best coverage possible. Just putting it in the MLS may not be enough. If you have a virtual tour (highly recommended) then you might see the home in other places online such as YouTube. Beyond online, there are plenty of print media options. Keep in mind newspaper ads are very ineffective! You might like seeing your home in print but it's not likely to bring in a buyer. Most important is to ask you agent to vary their marketing or come up with creative marketing if you're not getting results.
4) Are you marketing this to other agents?
While the MLS is great, it also helps to make sure the agents in the area know about the home. Not every agent is on the ball so sending emails and having a broker tour can make a big difference in the exposure your home gets. If your listing agent isn't taking the time to network and market you home to other agents, this is a big red flag.
5) Will you update me on the progress of your marketing?
This is important so your home doesn't "sit idle". An active listing agent should get you information on showings and marketing efforts on a regular basis. Some agents like to update clients 2-3 times a week, others just once a week, some less frequently. If it's been many weeks or months since you got a call or email from your agent, they're not helping you. You should ask for and expect updates at a reasonable frequency.
The bottom line is - be an advocate for yourself! Ask and expect good service so you get what you're paying for!
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Bryan Robertson, President | T: 650.799.9951 | Email: bryan@arrivva.com | Website: http://www.BryanRobertsonHomes.com |CA License: 01191946 | ARIVVA | 744 San Antonio Road Ste 24 | Palo Alto, CA 94303
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