Here you are…. you know that selling your home is in the near future and you know you want to hire a professional (realtor) to lead you through the process. You are also aware that there are thousands ( roughly 2,600) licensed realtors in the greater Springfield area. So how will you choose? To help-here is a list of great questions you can ask before hiring a realtor to an exclusive agency agreement.
- How long have you been a licensed realtor? You don’t want an agent that’s burnt out because they’ve been doing it for 30 years, but you may also be hesitant to be someone’s first client. While this isn’t the most important question, it’s a great way to get to know their experience.
- How many homes have you sold this year? You want to find an agent that’s actively selling homes! This doesn’t mean to automatically go with the realtor with the most sales- but you do want to use a professional that’s hustling and selling homes in the current market.
- What price do you recommend I list my home for and why? Once you get to know a little bit about the agent, it’s time to get down to the numbers! You want to know what your home is worth to them and why. Now… keep in mind that, unfortunately, some agents may recommend a higher listing price just to get your business. Don’t be fooled… listing your home for more than what it’s worth will hurt your listing and could result in you making less money. What you want to know is what they recommend and WHY. A good agent will be able to tell you a price range and share clear data to support the recommended value.
- How much do you charge for your services? As a seller hiring an agent, you will be paying for their services. Make sure you have a clear understanding of what the fee is and when it’s due. While there is a market norm, this fee can vary from agent to agent. Once again, don’t be fooled by an agent that is willing to charge less than others. To me, that’s the same as hiring a painter just because they would charge me less to paint my home. Sounds like a good way to end up with a professional that does a sub par job. In the end, hiring the best agent for the job will result in you making more money.
- How will you market my property? Get details of how an agent will go about finding buyers. Make sure whoever you hire has strategies in place that keep your home in front of people for the duration of the listing. Proper and aggressive marketing that highlights your home’s major selling points will result in you earning top dollar.
- How do you communicate with your clients once you list their home? Selling your personal home can be stressful. Make sure you are working with someone that is willing to communicate in a fashion that fits your expectations.
Beyond these key questions, you want to make sure you are hiring a realtor that you feel confident and comfortable with. Choose someone that you trust to take care of the businesses side of things, but also one that you click well with… after all, you will be working with them for the next few months. My job as a realtor is to help my clients get top dollar for their home while also having the best experience possible. Have more questions about selling a home? Click the contact button at the top of the page to reach me directly!
