Choosing the Best Realtor® to Sell Your Home
Choosing the best Realtor® to sell your home is one of the most important business decisions you will make. Although there are some really great people working in real estate sales, not all are equally skilled or competent. You deserve to work with the best of the best so that you sell your home for the most money the current market allows, in the shortest window of time possible, with minimal stress to you and your family. A qualified Realtor® will be sincerely dedicated to you and your real estate goals.
Here are some questions you should ask Realtors® as you interview them to sell your home.
- What are your professional qualifications for selling my home?
Look for someone who is a full-time, full-service, professional REALTOR® and a licensed real estate agent. REALTORS® are real estate professionals who belong to the National Association of Realtors. They subscribe to a strict Code of Ethics and are committed to ongoing education in the real estate industry. - What is your Internet Marketing Strategy and Is It Effective?
In today’s real estate market, over 90% of all homes are sold as a result of on-line marketing. Your Realtor® should not only have a company and/or personal website, but those sites should have high search engine optimization and rank near the top of Google searches. The best Realtors typically have a real estate blog as well and will use their blog to highlight your property. To cast a wider net and get more eyes on your listing, your Realtor® should have a command of Social Media Marketing and actively utilize LinkedIn, Facebook Business Pages, and Twitter for increased exposure. Also expect your Realtor® to provide enhanced listings on the most frequented real estate sites of Realtor.com Trulia, and Zillow. - What are your Productivity, Schedule, and Business Experience?
Ask how many homes the Realtor® and her office team have sold over the past couple of years. It is good to know what the average days on market are for properties listed by her office along with the list to sale price ratio. Do not be afraid to consider a Realtor® newer to the field, but be sure to ask about her background in sales, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Ask if she normally works with home sellers and buyers in your community. And, ask if she is committed full-time to real estate sales and what her typical workday and workweek look like. You want choose a Realtor® who will work hard and smart for you! - Will you Assist Me in Preparing and Staging My Home for Sale?
A good listing agent will advise you on how to stage your home so that you are able to make the best possible first impression at that critical time when your home first hits the market. You want to be educated on how to position your property for a quick sale. Be sure your Realtor® is prepared to provide you with all the vendor contacts you need to paint, landscape, handle handyman projects, refinish floors, and perform any other pertinent service. Be sure to ask how she plans to photograph your property and request to view photography samples from past listings. - Will you Provide Professional References?
Request at least three recent references from past clients. Be sure to ask for both written testimonials along with permission to call the clients directly. Also, ask what her broker would say should you contact her directly — and then call that broker and find out! And, ask how much of her business is repeat or referral business. The most successful Realtors® build their businesses from the referrals of satisfied past clients and are therefore most likely to satisfy you. - What Determines the List Price of my Property?
Be wary of any Realtor® who presents you with a market analysis but then simply agrees to list your house for $50,000 more than the data suggests. Trust me; this type of behavior is no favor to you. Location, condition, and the market drive the pricing structure. A good Realtor® will advise you that what you want, what your neighbor thinks, what you need, what you paid…what, what and more whats….do not determine value. The VALUE of your property is determined by what a BUYER is willing to pay in today’s market based on comparing your property to other similar properties SOLD in your area. Hire a Realtor® who is comfortable being honest with you about this most important PRICING piece of the puzzle. Your Realtor® has to be an effective communicator who can guide you to remove emotion from the pricing process and help you stick to the numbers. - How is your Commission Structured?
Most agents are paid entirely by commission and the fee typically comes from the seller proceeds of the sale at closing. Hire a Realtor® who does not get nervous about responding to this very valid question. A skilled Realtor® will calmly outline how she works and explain that she will earn her way by delivering a successful sale worth every dollar of the fee charged. - Will you agree to a Cancellation Clause in the Listing Contract?
The answer to this question should always be a resounding “YES.” A competent and confident Realtor® will plan to get the job done! And, if either party is so unhappy with the process (again, unlikely when you hire a good Realtor®), it is probably best to part ways anyway. - Will you be Available to Communicate with me regularly?
At your first meeting, your Realtor® should put a communication plan in place. Together you will schedule a set time each week to update you on activity. Determine if live telephone conversations, email, or text messages work best for your lifestyle. Be sure to hire a Realtor® who is willing to be flexible and available to you for questions that come up. Also confirm that your Realtor® is your personal point of contact, not someone else at the office.
These questions should serve as a good starting point for you in your interview process. There truly are many terrific Realtors® out there, but is important that you take the time to locate the one that will best serve you!
About the Author: The above info on “How to Interview a Realtor® to Sell your Home” was provided by Jill Kelly Crawley. You can reach Jill by email at jakcrawley@gmail.com and by cell at 781-726-0447. Jill is a service-focused, professional Realtor® committed to helping people succeed in reaching their real estate goals. If you are thinking of selling or buying a home, Jill would love the opportunity to be of service.
Jill practices Real Estate in the Greater Boston area including the towns of Brookline, Dedham, Westwood, Canton, Norwood, Needham, Wellesley, Medfield, Newton, Norwood, Sharon, Walpole, Milton, Dover, Natick, West Roxbury, and Jamaica Plain.
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