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Brian Petrelli
303-817-0209
bpetrelli@kw.com
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10 Questions to Ask Your Realtor about Selling a House
1. Are
you a full-time professional real estate agent? How long have you worked full
time in real estate? How long have you been representing buyers? What
professional designations do you have?
Knowing whether or not your agent
practices full time can help you determine potential scheduling conflicts and
his or her commitment to your transaction. As with any profession, the number of
years a person has been in the business does not necessarily reflect the level
of service you can expect, but it is a good starting point for your discussion.
The same issue can apply to professional designations.
2. Do you have
a personal assistant, team or staff to handle different parts of the purchase?
What are their names and how will each of them help me in my transaction? How do
I communicate with them?
It is not uncommon for agents who sell a lot of
houses to hire people to work with them. As their businesses grow, they must be
able to deliver the same or higher quality service to more people.
You
may want to know who on the team will take part in your transaction, and what
role each person will play. You may even want to meet the other team members
before you decide to work with the team. If you have a question about fees on
your closing statement, who would handle that? Who will show up to your closing?
3. Do you have a Website that will list my home? Can I have your URL
address? Who responds to emails and how quickly? What’s your email
address?
Many buyers prefer to search online for homes because it’s
available 24 hours a day and can be done at home. So you want to make sure your
home is listed online, either on the agent’s Website or on their company’s site.
By searching your agent's Website you will get a clear picture of how much
information is available online.
4. How will you keep in contact with
me during the selling process, and how often?
Some agents may email, fax
or call you daily to tell you that visitors have toured your home, while others
will keep in touch weekly. Asking this question can help you to reconcile your
needs with your agent's systems.
5. What do you do that other agents
don't that ensures I'm getting top dollar for my home? What is your average
market time versus other agents' average market time?
Marketing skills
are learned, and sometimes a real estate professional's unique method of
research and delivery make the difference between whether or not a home sells
quickly. For example, an agent might research the demographics of your
neighborhood and present you a target market list for direct marketing
purposes.
6. Will you give me names of past
clients?
Interviewing an agent can be similar to interviewing someone to
work in your office. Contacting references can be a reliable way for you to
understand how he or she works, and whether or not this style is compatible with
your own.
7. Do you have a performance guarantee? If I am not
satisfied with your performance, can I terminate our listing
agreement?
In the heavily regulated world of real estate, it can be
difficult for an agent to offer a performance guarantee. If your agent does not
have a guarantee, it does not mean they are not committed to high standards.
Typically, he or she will verbally outline what you can expect from their
performance. Keller Williams® Realty understands the importance of win-win
business relationships: the agent does not benefit if the client does not also
benefit.
8. How will you get paid? How are your fees structured? May I
have that in writing?
In many areas, the seller pays all agent
commissions. Sometimes, agents will have other small fees, such as
administrative or special service fees, that are charged to clients, regardless
of whether they are buying or selling. Be aware of the big picture before you
sign any agreements. Ask for an estimate of costs from any agent you contemplate
employing.
9. How would you develop pricing strategies for our home?
Although location and condition affect the selling process, price is the
primary factor in determining if a home sells quickly, or at all. Access to
current property information is essential, and sometimes a pre-appraisal will
help. Ask your agent how they created the market analysis, and whether your
agent included For Sale by Owner homes, foreclosed homes and bank-owned sales in
that list.
10. What will you do to sell my home? Who determines where
and when my home is marketed/ promoted? Who pays for your advertising?
Ask your real estate agent to present to you a clear plan of how
marketing and advertising dollars will be spent. If there are other forms of
marketing available but not specified in the plan ask who pays for those.
Request samples or case studies of the types of marketing strategies that your
agent proposes (such as Internet Websites, print magazines, open houses, and
local publications).
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