10 Questions You Should Ask Any Realtor When Selling Your Home

Contrary to popular belief, not all realtors are the same. If you’ve decided to consult with an agent to help you buy or sell your home, you need to get informed first before doing anything else.

That’s why we prepared a set of questions to ask any realtor when selling your home.

A real estate agent can make a hole in your spending budget or save you loads of cash.

Choosing a realtor matters a lot when attempting to buy or sell your property.

The right agent can help you save a fortune, whereas an unsuitable one can cost you a fortune!

I’m sure you’re asking yourself:

How to choose a realtor to sell then? 

To ensure you’ve chosen the best one, you must ask the right questions first.

This guide will show you the top questions to ask a realtor when selling.

Our purpose is to give you the necessary information to help you choose someone that best matches your needs and wants. This will also help you determine if we are the right ones for you.

Let’s get one thing straight: some things are not created equal like most things in life in the real estate business.

Consulting with a realtor is highly recommended because the right agent can help you make an informed decision. A professional will know how to handle your property.

Also, since we’re talking about truths here, your home is most likely the single, largest, and most important financial investment you’ll probably make in your life.

10 Things You Need To Know To Determine How To Choose a Realtor To Sell

 

1. What sets you apart from other agents? Why should I hand over my home to you?

When hiring a realtor, you will learn that there are many options you can choose from, regardless of your location.

Are there any unique programs and marketing plans that one agent can provide that another can’t?

Decide on a realtor that can make your home stand out from other available properties on the market.

Also, check to see if there’s something special they can offer instead of the competition. Perhaps they can sell your property fast and without charging you a fortune? Thus, it is crucial to know what differentiates them and how that can benefit you when you initially ask yourself how to choose a realtor when selling. 

2. Does your company have a track record or an established reputation?

Many real estate agents claim to be the best in their fields, and everywhere you look, there’s an agent boasting about being an expert at everything.

Fortunately, you’ve heard that before so often that you probably don’t even care anymore. 

At the end of the day, why should you care that agent X is the best? You just want someone competent and can sell your home at the right price, not necessarily someone who claims to be the best.

Since you want to sell your home quickly and for a suitable amount, you should ask an agent how many homes they’ve sold in the past.

Success is defined by the number of homes sold in real estate– it’s as simple as that. If one agent is closing 10 houses and then there’s another claiming to be the best but closing 2 houses, who would you choose? The first one, of course. 

Why should you hire someone who can’t prove they’re the best?

 

It may surprise you to know this, but most agents don’t sell more than 10 houses every 12 months. That’s because it’s tough for them to perform impactful marketing campaigns for all. They just don’t have enough cash to invest in special programs and advertising and thus make your property stand out.

Furthermore, many can’t afford an assistant to help them out, and alone they don’t have the time to run from one place to another and finish everything on time.

The bottom line is that accepting more homes than they can take can affect their services.

3. Do you have any marketing plans in mind for my home? 

Does agent X have a specific amount of cash in mind for marketing listed homes as opposed to agent Y?

What sort of media (magazines, TV, social media, etc.) do they use to advertise homes?

Do they know which approach is better?

4. Has your agency sold any properties in my area?

Real estate agents should have a complete list of homes sold, particularly a list with homes sold in your area (but that is not mandatory, just highly recommended).

Also, they should present comparable sales, if any. If the agent sold houses in your area, that could be a good sign because the agent already knows the town and how to get the best out of it. 

5. Who controls the advertising and marketing part of my home – you or your broker/agency? 

If you hire a realtor who doesn’t control his/her marketing campaigns, then your property might be competing with the agent’s other listings and the listings of other agents in the company.

6. Generally speaking, does the closing price come near the asking price when you list a home? 

This sort of information is usually available in the Real Estate Board.

Can you see if the agent’s performance rates are higher/lower than the average percentage presented on the board?

When asking yourself how to choose a realtor to sell, their level of performance can help you predict the amount of money you might get for selling your home with that agent.

7. On average, what’s the average amount of time required for a listing to sell?

You can find this information in the Real Estate Board.

Does this agent sell homes faster or slower than other agents on the board? Their level of performance can help you make predictions and determine the amount of time your home will stay on the market before getting sold.

8. How many home buyers are currently working with you?

Usually, the more buyers the agent has, the better the chances for your home to sell quickly.

It will also impact the general price because a skilled agent with many buyers can organize an auction-like house sale and invite potential buyers to place their bids. Inquire them to describe to you the system they use to attract buyers.

9. Can you give me a reference list of clients I can get in touch with?

It might be a good idea to ask them if they can give you a reference list. Choose a couple of people on the list and call them.

Ask them about their experience with the agent you are interviewing. Let them talk. You’ll get the answers you need.

Also, they can help you clarify questions to ask a realtor when selling.

10. What if I’m not satisfied with your services and attempt to sell my home? Is there any chance I can cancel the contract?

Real estate agents only get paid when they help clients buy or sell a home.

Typically, they put in hours and hours of effort to help their clients achieve that goal. Most agents request that you sign a contract using their services to buy, sell, or both.

It is in everyone’s best interest for real estate agents to help you achieve your goals.

 

However, there may come a time when you wish to split ways with the agent you selected.

Ask them upfront about their typical way of dealing with conflict should it arise when working together.

Most agents are flexible about releasing clients from contracts as long as the contract has been conducted in good faith up until the point of conflict.

The best way to avoid any such conflict is by having a candid conversation on the front end and keeping the lines of communication open and honest.

How self-reliant is your real estate agent in the services provided to you? Will they allow you to back down from a deal without penalties if you’re not 100% satisfied with their services?

We hope these questions to ask a realtor when selling help you find the right one.

Evaluate each agent’s responses to the above questions, but do it objectively. Who caters to your needs and wants the most? 

[Related Article: What Not to Fix When Selling a House?]

My name is Juan Cano, and I am a real estate agent in Massachusetts. I would love to answer all of these questions for you. Get in touch today to discover your home’s worth, and let’s find out if we are a great fit!