When thinking about hiring a real estate agent, it is important to interview more than one, that way you have a better chance of finding the right agent for you. In order to decide between your options, there are a few questions that you need to ask each agent, according to Inman News.
Here are 7 questions to ask a real estate agent before selling your home...
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How much do you think you can sell my home for? Your agent(s) should prepare a comparative market analysis (CMA) for you to look at. A CMA will show you the asking price and selling price of nearby, comparable homes.
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Do you have a list of references I can contact? This list should consist of 5 or so sellers that the agent has most recently worked with. Ask the references if they were happy with the agent, and listen carefully to their responses.
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How long have you been working in this area? In order to sell your home, the agent needs to be familiar with your area.
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What is your minimum listing term? If an agent answers 30-90 days, they are just looking to sell your home fast. Look at the average days on market in your area to see what is realistic. A typical listing contract is 3-6 months depending on the agent.
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How many buyers and sellers are you currently working with? Make sure that your agent isn’t working with too many other buyers and sellers without an adequate number of assistants. You don’t want him or her to neglect your home sale.
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What is your marketing plan for my home? Figure out whether the agent plans to advertise your home in print, online, or through both mediums, how much you will have to pay for this, and how you will need to prepare your home for a successful sale.
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Is my home ready to sell? Basically you want to find out whether or not you need to update your home in order to ensure that it sells for the highest price possible. An agent might say that all your home needs is some TLC (such as some fresh paint and some de-cluttering), or they may suggest that you hire a professional stager to get your home in selling-condition.
Once you have interviewed all of your potential agents, compare their answers and pick the one that you think will work best for you and your home.
For more questions to ask your real estate agents, check out this article from Inman News.
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