What Questions To Ask Any Realtor
Most people sell only a few homes in their lifetime. With such limited experience how can you
maximize your profits? Homeowners will often list their home with the first real estate agent that
comes along, because they mistakenly believe that all real estate agents are the same. Well the reality
is; that nothing could be further from the truth. Who in their right mind would entrust the marketing
and sale of your home to someone who has no plan or qualifications.
My hope is that this report will give you the knowledge to help you select a qualified, competent, and
professional real estate agent to represent you in the sale of your largest financial asset; your home.
- Send me some information - One of the best ways to get an idea of the professionalism of the
real estate agent you are thinking of hiring, is to look at their promotional materials. Do they
have a professional personal brochure? If there promotional materials are not professional, do
you think they will do any better when it comes to the marketing of your home? Do they have a
written marketing plan and are they willing to email you? Keep track of how long it takes for
them to respond to your request. If they don't respond in a timely manner to your request,
imagine how they will handle requests from potential home buyers.
- How many homes has the agent sold - When selling your largest financial asset it is important to
look for a real estate that has experience, knowledge and excellent marketing skills. How many
homes has the real estate agent sold in the past six months? In today's challenging real estate
market it is one thing to list a home, and quite another to get a home sold. After all, selling your home is your ultimate goal.
- What are the agents qualifications - How long has the agent been in the business, are they full
time, and what professional designations do they have. The length of time an agent has been in
the business is not necessarily the acid test for a successful agent. It is possible for an agent to
have been in the business for ten or more years, but only part time. I was talking to the man at
Costco who checks your receipt as you leave the store. He proudly told me that he was a real
estate agent too. Is the Costco employee the person you want marketing and negotiating the
sale of your largest financial asset? One of the best ways to determine the qualifications of a
real estate agent is to look at the professional designations and organizations the agent belongs
to. If the agent has a number of advanced designations it is a clear sign that the agent takes
their profession seriously and understands the importance of continuing education.
- What about a support staff- The old saying goes, "if you do not have an assistant, you are one."
Does the agent have a well organized staff of people to handle the details of the day to day
business?
- How the agent determines the price to list your house at - Some agents will tell you anything
you want to hear. They will list your house at whatever price you want and as soon as the ink is
dry on the contract they will begin to hammer you for price reductions. This can make for a very
stressful listing. Homes that are overpriced in the beginning will languish on the market for
months and eventually sell for less than if they had been priced properly in the beginning. A
professional real estate agent will look at the homes that are similar to yours, the price they
have sold for, and then suggest a price range for your home based upon its current condition.
This is a smart strategy as it will attract the right buyers for your home and ultimately get you
the highest price possible for your home. Remember, no matter how much you love your home
or how many wonderful memories you have created there; your home is not worth one penny
more than the best buyer is willing to pay.
- What is the length of the listing contract - Make sure the agent goes over the contract with you
in detail. A standard length of time for a listing contract is six months. Make sure that you know
exactly what fees you will be paying. Less is not always better. If the real estate agent is going
to make very little commission, you can be sure that they will spend very little money marketing
your property. There are thousands of homes on the market today and if your home is not well
positioned and professionally marketed it will not catch the attention of the buyers that are
looking to purchase. Another thing to remember is that if the real estate agent you are talking
to is not able to defend their commission, how well do you think they will be able to defend the
sales price of your home to a prospective buyer?
- What is your unique advantage over the competition - Not all real estate agents are the same.
To sell a home in today's competitive market you need an agent that has an effective and
professional marketing plan. Does the agent have a 24/7 marketing plan? Does the agent have
an effective web site presence? Does the agent have a call-capture system? Are all leads
promptly followed up on? Innovate agents are constantly introducing new methods of
attracting buyers. These agents will dramatically outperform agents who continue to rely on the
worn and out dated methods of the past. What new marketing strategies will your agent utilize
to attract more buyers to your home?
It is my hope that this report has been helped you to realize and to recognize that not all real estate
agents are created equally. When it comes to entrusting the marketing and sale of your largest financial
asset you need to ask some important questions. You need to make sure that you are placing your trust
in a true professional, not a part time hack. If there is any way that I can be of service to you, or a friend
or family member, please give me a call. I look forward to the opportunity to meet with you to discuss
the marketing and sale of your home. Give me a call. 303-254-5915
